Body in Julian Identified as Missing Woman, 75

Sheriff’s deputies have identified a body found in San Diego County as that of 75-year-old Sally Estabrook, who vanished nearly two months ago.

Deputies in Julian responded just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a woman’s body found in some heavy shrubbery off the roadway in the 200 block of Coulter Ridge Road.

The body was found near Pinezanita Campground on Highway 79 where Estabrook disappeared on Oct. 4.

Estabrook, the mother-in-law of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. She was reported missing by her husband, who had finished a shower and realized she was gone.

Estabrook's family and friends were grieving her death over Thanksgiving weekend, as they had been holding out hope she would be found alive.

"You can't imagine the devastation of basically spending 24/7 with somebody and then have them virtually disappear in an instant," said her husband, Bob Estabrook.

Since her disappearance, Bob Estabrook would return to the mountain area to look for her every week. He said he wasn't alone in his continued efforts to find his wife alive.

"There's always been somebody up there searching, and I just can't thank them enough for their effort," he said.

Bob Estabrook said it was tough to believe his wife was found on a hillside so close to where she disappeared, given that so many searchers had scoured that area.

No foul play was believed to be involved. The cause and manner of death will be made by the medical examiner’s office.

Estabrook's family said that while she's been found, they will always miss her.

"Sally was a remarkable woman. She truly was," Bob Estabrook said. "It was just my honor to have her in my life and we spent 30 years together and I will miss her so much.

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