Search for missing Hart children along Mendocino Coast turns up nothing

Searchers Monday continued combing the northern Mendocino County coastline, looking for the bodies of the remaining children from last month's fatal crash of a Washington state family.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office volunteer search-and-rescue team Monday afternoon was focusing south of the crash site - near Westport, north of Fort Bragg, aided by a CHP helicopter.

Monday's low tide was expected to help searchers looking for the missing children and further evidence from the crash discovered March 26. The effort began about 11 a.m. and by 5 p.m. a sheriff's spokesman said nothing had been found.

On Saturday, the body of an African-American female was found in the surf near the crash site. She could be Hannah, 16, or Cierra Hart, 12. Also still missing is Devonte Hart, 15.

An autopsy is set for Tuesday and DNA testing may be necessary to determine her identity, officials said, which could take weeks.

Investigators suspect Jennifer hart, 38, deliberately drove her wife, Sarah Hart, 38, and their six children off the cliff. Their SUV plunged 100 feet to the surf and rocks.

Three children were thrown from the vehicle. The two women were found inside.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

Editor's note: The Sheriff's Office had initially identified the missing person from Woodland, Washington as 15-year-old Sierra Hart. The correct spelling is Cierra Hart, age 12. This article has been corrected to reflect this change.