COUNTYWIDE : Family Believed Missing Turns Up

A Camarillo family, reported lost in the Sespe Wilderness area north of Fillmore, hiked out Monday afternoon not lost after all, a Ventura County sheriff’s spokesman said. “Everyone is fine,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Earl Matthews, who coordinated a search-and-rescue team.

The family--Randy Kemper, 38; his wife, Marilyn; his daughter, Amy, 9; and his father, Byron--was spotted shortly after 4 p.m. driving their camper vehicle from Dough Flat toward Fillmore, said Ron Godfrey, head of the Fillmore volunteer search-and-rescue team.

The Kempers were reported missing Sunday evening by Kemper’s ex-wife, Julie Phillips of Thousands Oaks, Matthews said. Phillips apparently thought the family, which left on the backpacking trip early Saturday morning, was due to return Sunday night. When they failed to show up, she reported them missing.

A sheriff’s helicopter and four-wheel drive vehicles searched the area Sunday night and Monday, but could not find the family. Finally, Godfrey encountered them driving back from Dough Flat.

“I had a hard time convincing them I was looking for them,” Godfrey said. “They said they had walked to Alder Creek (about five miles from Dough Flat) and camped out Saturday and Sunday night. They caught some trout and were having a good time and didn’t think there was a problem. I told them sometimes we find people who aren’t lost.”