Body found in search area of missing Irvine woman

Authorities found the body of a woman in Big Bear Lake on Thursday morning in an area that has been the subject of an intense search for a missing Irvine woman.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials have not confirmed whether the body is that of Lisa Ann Cimbaluk, 35, whose snow-covered car was found Sunday morning.

The body was found in the water during an aerial search over the South Shore in the Big Bear Lake area.

Sheriff’s officials and search and rescue crews on the ground confirmed the body was that of a woman.

Crews are working to recover the body. Coroner’s investigators will identify the body and determine a cause of death.

Authorities have been searching for days for Cimbaluk after she was reported missing Dec. 30 by her family, who last saw her the day before at her Irvine home.

Irvine police were looking for Cimbaluk’s vehicle and entered her into a missing persons database. Then on Sunday, San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies found her vehicle at Woodland Trailhead in Fawnskin.

Irvine police said there were no signs of foul play.

On Wednesday, teams found trash, clothing, bottles and glass in their search area. But they were unable to determine whether the items belonged to Cimbaluk because the area is heavily traveled.

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