A California grandmother has voiced profound concerns regarding the police investigation into the disappearance of her daughter and eight-month-old granddaughter, alleging that law enforcement agencies are dismissing the urgent case due to the family’s past criminal history.
Whisper Owen, 36, and her infant daughter, Sandra, vanished over two weeks ago. They were last seen on July 15 in Atwater, California, captured on camera during what was supposed to be a three-hour drive from a family visit in Fresno back to their Sacramento home. This sudden and unexplained disappearance has plunged the family into a desperate search.
Vickie Torres, Whisper’s 58-year-old mother, revealed in an exclusive interview that she believes police are ‘profiling my family,’ leading to a perceived lack of effort in the search. Torres, candid about her own past struggles with alcohol and four years of sobriety, questions why a baby’s innocence is being overlooked in this critical missing persons case.
Torres recounted the frustrating journey of the official investigation, noting that the missing child case has been bounced between several police and sheriff’s departments. The Fresno Sheriff’s Department initially took the report, then transferred it to Sacramento, where authorities reportedly worked on it for only a day before theorizing Whisper had absconded due to an outstanding warrant.
The warrant, issued six months prior, stemmed from a 2021 neglect conviction after one of Whisper’s children contracted COVID-19. Torres vehemently disputes the police theory that her daughter is ‘running,’ stating Whisper was aware of the warrant and had even attempted to turn herself in at the Sacramento County Jail, but was sent home due to high blood pressure. This highlights the police accountability concerns raised by the family.
The police investigation is now under the purview of the Fresno Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit. Lieutenant Larry Bowlan confirmed checks on family shelters in Sacramento County and Redding and stated that photos of the mother and baby have been shared on social media by law enforcement across central and northern California. However, Bowlan indicated that investigators do not believe any foul play is involved at this stage.
Despite police assurances, Torres holds fears ranging from a car wreck to abduction by sex traffickers, underscoring the family’s deep anxiety. Whisper’s boyfriend, Robert McCarty, and her brother, Richard, along with his wife, have actively joined the search, combing rural roads between Fresno and Sacramento. The emotional toll is evident, with Whisper’s three-year-old son, Jacob, constantly calling out for his mother.
Whisper’s last confirmed movements included a doctor’s appointment in Fresno, a grocery store stop for baby formula in Atwater, and then nothing. Torres issues a heartfelt plea for public awareness, urging people to remain vigilant and understand the unimaginable anguish her family is enduring, emphasizing the need to locate her missing grandchild.
