Family says body of 17-year-old Saratoga teen found in Santa Cruz mountains

Katherine Schneider had been missing for more than a month

Katherine Schneider’s body was discovered in the Santa Cruz mountains just over a month after she went missing from her Saratoga home, according to a statement her family shared on Instagram.

“It’s hard to put into words how much Katie will be missed,” the teen’s family said on social media on Sunday. “She taught us all how to live our best lives without limits.”

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office informed Schneider’s family that she died in a car accident and that her remains were discovered in a ravine near Castle Rock State Park, according to the post.

“At this time, the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking incident are still under investigation,” according to the post.

Schneider left her home on July 5 without taking any money, identification cards, or a cell phone, according to Schneider’s mother in a social media post. Following her disappearance, a three-county search for the adolescent began. Schneider’s car, a white 2019 Honda Accord, was discovered on Skyline Boulevard near Castle Rock State Park last week.

Human remains were discovered near the park on Sunday afternoon, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. The county’s Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office is still investigating to “confirm the identity of the person located.”