Divers continue search for missing Selma woman Jolissa Fuentes

The independent search and recovery group, Adventures with Purpose, began looking at Avocado Lake to help find Jolissa Fuentes.

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Saturday, August 27, 2022
Divers continue search for missing Selma woman Jolissa Fuentes
Jolissa's family waited near the shore as Adventures with Purpose took their sonar equipment and two boats out on the water for Day 2 of their search.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Divers are continuing their search in Fresno County for a Selma woman who went missing nearly three weeks ago.

The independent search and recovery group, Adventures with Purpose, began looking Thursday at Avocado Lake to help find Jolissa Fuentes.

The 22-year-old was last seen driving a silver Hyundai in the Selma area.

RELATED: Independent divers to help search for Selma woman Jolissa Fuentes

But, the Fresno County Sheriff's Department says her phone's last signal was near Avocado and Pine Flat Lakes.

On Friday, the divers started their day at Pine Flat Lake.

Jolissa's family said it's an area they frequent.

"She's the missing piece to our puzzle ..a puzzle is never complete until you find that piece, right? So we are going to keep searching, we are going to keep looking for however long it takes," said Sandra Archuleta, Jolissa's aunt.

On Friday, the family patiently waited near the shoreline while Adventures with Purpose took their sonar equipment and two boats out on the water for Day 2 of their search.

But they weren't the only ones searching - the Fresno County Sheriff's Office also had its search and rescue resources out.

"We've done very extensive searches but have not revealed any evidence to show that she's in that area," said Tony Botti with the sheriff's office.

Botti said they also have August 7th surveillance video from when Jolissa drove to the Arco gas station on Highland and Nebraska.

He said it's just not adding up.

"So for her cell phone data to put us into a region that was the complete opposite direction of where she may have been driving, has us scratching our heads and thinking, you know, 'Did she need to go clear her mind up somewhere in the wilderness that she have places she likes to go just to kind of, you know, gather her thoughts?'"

While they work to piece together the puzzle, Botti said the extra eyes and ears are valuable, and the additional resources from Adventures With Purpose are appreciated.

"Their hearts are in the right place. They're trying to do the best for the Fuentes family, and if they should happen to turn up some evidence that we didn't find, we're going to welcome that with open arms," he said.

It's a vast area to search - with winding roads, land thick with trees, and large lakes.

The lead diver of Adventures with Purpose said they would continue to give it all they got on Friday, their last day.

"If we don't end up finding her in our search from yesterday and today, then she's still out there, so hopefully, if somebody knows something, they could come forward because it would be nice to bring her home to her family," said lead diver Nick Rinn.

The search with continue Saturday with the sheriff's office. Authorities said this weekend, they will utilize their pre-scheduled search and rescue training to look for Jolissa.

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