Woman Missing for 10 Days Survived in Angeles National Forest on Creek Water, Native Berries

Although some questions remain, Patch was able to get some details about the strange case of Shameca Lewis Johnson, who disappeared from Placentia on Aug. 20 and then was discovered by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team in the Angeles National Forest near Switzer Falls outside of La Cañada Flintridge on Aug. 30. 

Johnson went to the forest by cab on her accord and stayed there the entire time on purpose, according to Placentia Police Detective Corinne Loomis, who added that Johnson was familiar with the area from previous hiking trips and was not lost. 

"I think she went there to clear her head and to think things through. Beyond that I don’t know," Loomis said. When asked for further about information regarding Johnson's mental state, Loomis would not comment. 

Johnson was unware that there was a massive search underway for her or that her case had been profiled by many media outlets in Southern California, Loomis said. 

Temperatures were in the 90s regularly during Johnson's time in the forest, and Loomis expressed amazement that she was able to survive without proper supplies. She reportedly drank creek water and ate native berries in order to survive, and was in surprisingly good health after she was rescued. 

"She was exposed to the elements, and had medical issues stemming from not having enough to eat and improper water," Loomis said. "But for the length of time that she was out there and the conditions that were out there, she was in remarkably good health.

"She was drinking water from a nearby creek that was probably somewhat contaminated. The fact that she didn’t get dysentery or really, really sick from drinking from the creek—it was not designed and probably not fit for human consumption. The fact that she did not fall ill is remarkable."

Loomis also said that the media played a large part in helping authorities find Johnson. A cab driver called police late Thursday or early Friday saying he saw media reports about Johnson and recalled giving her a ride up to the Angeles National Forest on Aug. 20. A group of hikers also encountered Johnson on Aug. 29 and reported that she appeared to be confused and wandering in the forest near Switzer Falls. They contacted the police later and recognized her from media reports.

"If we did not have that [media] outlet she very well could have died out there," Loomis said.