The body of a Petaluma teen missing in South Lake Tahoe was located Friday morning, although there is no evidence of foul play, authorities say.
Alyssa Byrne’s body was found behind a high snow bank 10 feet off a trail, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. She was found by a utility worker around 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The 19-year old had traveled to South Lake Tahoe to attend a music festival over New Year’s Eve. She was separated from her friends, but sent a text message saying she would take the shuttle back to the Horizon casino where the group was staying.
Deputies say Byrne likely missed the shuttle or decided to walk after learning it was temporarily closed. She had been drinking, according to friends, and may have fallen as she walked back along the dark path. There are no outward signs of trauma to the body. An autopsy is scheduled.
Friends and family were devastated to hear the news Friday.
"She was just so funny, so nice to everyone," said friend Jazmyne Taylor. "She was so great to be around. She is the kind of person that knew everyone and she probably saw some friends and left her group to go talk to them."
Earlier reports stated that Byrne had returned to the resort and was seen in the lobby area. But police were unable to spot her on security footage.
Byrne was an avid lacrosse player, worked at Cattlemen's and was a 2011 graduate of Casa Grande High School. The trip to South Lake Tahoe over New Year’s Eve was Byrne’s first by herself, said her mother Kim Byrne.
Send your words of support to Alyssa's family by posting in the comments below.
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One thing you down hill people don't understand at zero degrees how fast that cold sets in. The first to go is the thinking as the brain stops working. Was she dressed for that cold weather, what shoes or boots did she have on for protection? The feet being cold and wet, the neck being exposed to the weather you lose over 60% of your body heat worse if the head isn't covered. (HOODIE) Trying to walk a mile in zero degrees not dress for it, whose to blame? When we went skiing, a one minute walk from the parking lot to the office to pay for our over night camping our pants froze in seconds from the sweat or moisture from our body heat from nice warm truck heater. This was at zero degrees temp out side. You hair is frozen too. She failed to feel the warning signs maybe tried to go back. Just more laws are needed for one that can't be responsible for what choices are made. Make this another learning experience about the choice you make in your life here on earth. Your in a different world at zero degrees you need to respect the cold weather. RIP Alyssa
Hypothermia is the lowering of the body temperature at a rate faster than the body can produce heat. Causes of hypothermia may be general exposure or the sudden chilling of the body by falling into a lake, ocean just \walking out in zero degree weather The initial symptom is shivering. This shivering may progress to the point that it is uncontrollable and interferes with an individual’s ability to care for himself. This begins when the body’s core (rectal) temperature falls to about 35.5 degrees C (96 degrees F). When the core temperature reaches 35 to 32 degrees C (95 to 90 degrees F), sluggish thinking, irrational reasoning and a false feeling of warmth may occur. Core temperatures of 32 to 30 degrees C (90 to 86 degrees F) and below result in muscle rigidity, unconsciousness and barely detectable signs of life. If the victim’s core temperature falls below 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), death is almost certain. I bet she started to remove clothing. 9 Injuries Caused by Extremely Cold Weather : Discovery Channel Did some pass some cocaine around? Time will tell. Yes, we need more laws! To prevent this happening again. She was over here head being up there in that weather. Does hot water freeze just as fast at zero as -41 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp97Ky5Tsa8
The bottom line is something happened that is very sdad for many people and it hits home here in petaluma as we have lost on of our own to very soon. It could have been prevented. Learn for the lesson here. Sad for the family and friends of her.
It seems highly inappropriate it post your comments in this thread. Alyssa's death has nothing to do with your comments, especially while her family is grieving.
People pass stuff around too at concerts, do you know what it cold be. At the Cow Place, someone made a cocaine sniff out of sport binoculars.
Fox Found “Frozen Alive” in Norway River | RocketNews24 en.rocketnews24.com/2012/.../fox-found-frozen-alive-in-norway-riv... Dec 19, 2012 RIP Alyssa