At least three agencies searched on Wednesday for a Santa Rosa mother who was reported missing after she dropped off her children at school Tuesday.
Jade Dashiell, 41, was last seen Tuesday morning and was reported missing at 4 p.m.
Citing unnamed officials, ABC-7 in San Francisco reported Wednesday that Dashiell was found dead of an apparent suicide.
Officials at the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Marin County Sheriff's Office would not confirm Dashiell's death, nor say whether they were still searching for her. Each agency referred questions to the other multiple times.
The Bennett Valley Union School District, where all three of Dashiell's children attend or have attended school, sent an email to parents Wednesday informing them about the death of an unnamed parent.
The email, titled "Very Sad News" said in part, "It is with great sadness that we must share with you news of the loss of one of our wonderful active and involved parents today."
School officials would not say who the parent was, citing privacy concerns.
The email said grief counselors would be available before the start of class at both Yulupa and Strawberry elementary schools, in addition to each school's own counselors and psychologists. They would be available for students, teachers, parents and other staff for as long as needed.
"As this information has appeared today in the news media, you may already know of this loss. As the news unfolds, your child may become aware of this or want to talk with you about it," said the email, which was signed by Bennett Valley Superintendent Sue Field and Strawberry Principal Scott Humble as well as Yulupa Elementary School Principal Sue Simon.
"She is a wonderful person," Simon said, reacting to news reports that Dashiell was missing. "She is a very devoted mom."
Earlier in the day, Santa Rosa police said a gun was missing from Dashiell's home and that she may be been despondent over "recent life events."
Dashiell called someone from Bolinas and her vehicle, a white GMC Yukon, was found Tuesday at a Palomarin trailhead near the Point Reyes National Seashore.
A search was begun in the area Tuesday, but was called off because of darkness and resumed Wednesday.
Santa Rosa police asked anyone with information about the case to call its tip line at 975-1106. Anyone with a tip needing immediate attention should call 911.
Staff Writer Jamie Hansen contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writers Kerry Benefield at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com and Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.
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