Authorities urge caution after body of missing woman found in Fresno County canal

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A woman who had been missing for more than a week was found dead Monday morning in a canal near Sanger, prompting renewed warnings from local authorities about the dangers of Central Valley waterways — particularly as temperatures rise.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, a worker reported seeing what appeared to be a body in a canal near South Newmark and East American Avenues just after 8 a.m. 

Deputies with the department’s Dive Team responded to the area and recovered the body of 53-year-old Linda Gaona of Sanger.

Gaona had last been seen on May 25, and her family had been circulating missing persons flyers online in hopes of locating her. Officials say she was known to frequent the area where she was found. 

“There’s no signs of foul play,” said Fresno County Sheriff’s Office PIO Tony Botti. “We don’t have an exact account of why she was in the water — whether she just fell in, was trying to swim, or clean off.”

While the circumstances surrounding Gaona’s death remain unclear, officials are using the tragedy to highlight the persistent and often underestimated risks of canals, particularly during the summer months.

“If it’s just the heat that they’re looking to escape, or a way to clean off — whatever the reason — we always encourage people not to get into the canals,” said Fresno Fire Department PIO,  Josh Sellers.

Canals across Fresno County pose several hidden threats. Despite appearing calm, the water often moves swiftly beneath the surface and is littered with unseen dangers.

“What people need to understand is when you’re walking along these canal banks, don’t get too close,” Botti warned. “You can hit some loose dirt, lose your footing, and once you fall in — the slope of it, the concrete — makes it almost impossible to get back out.”

“It may look calm and inviting over the surface,” added Sellers. “But underneath the water is usually moving at a pretty good pace. There’s trash, debris, sharp objects — it can cause serious injury or get you caught up.”

In 2022, 11 people drowned in Fresno County canals — a number officials say was alarmingly high. Though most years average two to three canal-related deaths, the risks remain consistent across all waterways, including rivers, lakes, and ponding basins.

As summer heat sets in, local agencies are urging the public — and especially those in vulnerable communities — to avoid canals at all costs.