Key Takeaways
- A 3-year-old girl drowned at Lake Don Pedro on July 18 and the case is now being investigated as a homicide.
- Sheriff David Vasquez said the investigation is active and deputies are treating it as a homicide "until we know otherwise."
- Deputies on boat patrol arrived first and took over CPR from bystanders, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The sheriff's office is asking for public help, including photos and videos of the child on a raft or boat.
- A GoFundMe for the family raised more than $13,000 before it was taken down.
Introduction
A family camping trip at a popular California reservoir has become a homicide investigation. Tuolumne County sheriff's officials say the drowning death of a 3-year-old girl at Lake Don Pedro is no longer being treated as an accident.
Sheriff Confirms Homicide Investigation
At a Tuesday Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting, Sheriff David Vasquez said the case is active and "we are treating it as a homicide. We don't have all of the logistics and all this information from all the people who are around there. We're still gathering that information, which is a common protocol for us to do whenever there's a death involving a child." His statement, reported by SFGATE, marked a major shift from the initial emergency response.
Tuolumne County deputies responded to the Fleming Meadows Lagoon at Lake Don Pedro on July 18, 2026 after receiving 911 calls about a missing child. According to the sheriff's office, the initial 911 call was received at approximately 3:34 p.m. and reported the child as missing and possibly drowned. As they headed to the scene, additional calls reported a girl found unresponsive in the water. Deputies on boat patrol arrived first and took over CPR from bystanders before medics and fire personnel arrived. The girl could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vasquez also addressed criticism of the response timeline, saying: "The deputy sheriff, the firefighters, and the medics responded to that call and at one point had to hold a lifeless child in their arms after performing CPR. I've been there, done that, and I know what it's like to be defeated. If there's anybody out there that has a question about how we responded to that, I know there was some feedback on social media and also some calls about the timelines. I know that deputy sheriffs, whenever there is a call for help coming from the community, they're unwavering in their response."
The sheriff's office has not identified the girl or her family but confirmed she was from Modesto, according to SFGATE.
Investigators Seek Photos and Video
The Sheriff's Office released an image of a blue raft in the lagoon and believes the girl was on that raft before her death. The photo, taken around the time of the girl's death, shows the blue raft amid crowds of people in the water. Officials are asking anyone with photos or videos of the child on the raft or boat, or who saw her before she was pulled from the water, to come forward. The sheriff's office is specifically seeking photos or videos of the child with other children on a raft or boat.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office at 209-694-2904.
Local California Context
Lake Don Pedro is a popular recreation area in the Sierra foothills south of Sonora in Tuolumne County. The lagoon at Fleming Meadows draws large summer crowds. Vasquez said the case "really shook the pillars of this entire community." The sheriff's office continues to gather witness statements.
Vasquez also addressed the emotional toll and social media chatter: "We saw a lot of narratives on social media. Folks are quick to judge, and emotions run high whenever we talk about things that seem to be preventable. Trust that your sheriff's office will conduct a thorough investigation, and when the time is appropriate, we will release what is applicable to release to the public."
Background: A Family Camping Trip
According to a GoFundMe page that was later taken down, the girl was on a camping trip with her family. Internet archives show the fundraiser had raised more than $13,000. "What was meant to be a joyful family camping trip became an unimaginable nightmare that no parent, sibling, or grandparent should ever have to endure," the page read.
The shift to a homicide investigation means the case will now involve criminal investigators, not just a drowning response. No arrests or named suspects have been announced.
Conclusion
The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are treating the toddler's death as a crime until the evidence points elsewhere. Members of the public with any relevant images or information should contact the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office. The community is waiting for answers in a case that has touched many across California's Central Valley and Sierra foothills.