California Brothers Ages 17 and 19 Missing amid Duck Hunting Trip, Say Police: 'Continue to Diligently Search'

Mar. 15, 2025

Teen brothers go missing on California duck hunting trip.Photo:Butte County Sheriff’s Office

Butte County Sheriff’s Office

Two teen brothers are missing after one of their kayaks overturned during a duck hunting trip in Northern California.On Monday, Dec. 16, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in areleasethat authorities first responded to a missing persons alert on Saturday, Dec. 14.“Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams are back out at the Thermalito Afterbay today, looking for two duck hunters, ages 17 and 19, who went missing over the weekend,” the release stated.Officials later identified the teenagers as 17-year-old Wesley Cornett and 19-year-old Andruw Cornett.Missing brothers Wesley Cornett and Andruw Cornett.Butte County Sheriff’s Office“On Saturday, December 14th, BCSO deputies, detectives, the BCSO Aviation and Marine Unit, and Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded out to the Afterbay after reports that one of two duck hunters had overturned on a kayak, and the other one swam into the water to try and help," the authorities added.“Both are currently missing. We continue to diligently search.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Teen brothers go missing on California duck hunting trip.Butte County Sheriff’s OfficeThe rescue team consists of members of the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Yuba County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Marine Unit and Dive Team members, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, California Department of Fish and Wild Life and CAL FIRE.The help of the public is currently not required with officialsstating, “do NOT call our dispatch center asking about volunteering to help.”The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Teen brothers go missing on California duck hunting trip.Butte County Sheriff’s Office“We appreciate it, but at this time we are not requesting assistance from the public,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Dec. 17. “We are receiving assistance today from several different law enforcement agencies from across Northern California. There are several boats out at the Afterbay searching today. We will provide an update as soon as it is available. Thank you.”They then shared a picture of the brothers anda videoof the rescue operation, which included footage of the team on boats.ABC affiliate KRCRreported that authorities are now shifting to a recovery operation.“We are running a lot of sonar equipment trying to narrow down anomalies that we can further inspect with underwater ROVs, which are unmanned underwater vehicles, as well as divers. The search that we are doing right now is a recovery,” Sgt. Brian Evans, with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Unit, said, per the outlet.

Two teen brothers are missing after one of their kayaks overturned during a duck hunting trip in Northern California.

On Monday, Dec. 16, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in areleasethat authorities first responded to a missing persons alert on Saturday, Dec. 14.

“Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams are back out at the Thermalito Afterbay today, looking for two duck hunters, ages 17 and 19, who went missing over the weekend,” the release stated.

Officials later identified the teenagers as 17-year-old Wesley Cornett and 19-year-old Andruw Cornett.

Missing brothers Wesley Cornett and Andruw Cornett.Butte County Sheriff’s Office

“On Saturday, December 14th, BCSO deputies, detectives, the BCSO Aviation and Marine Unit, and Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded out to the Afterbay after reports that one of two duck hunters had overturned on a kayak, and the other one swam into the water to try and help," the authorities added.

“Both are currently missing. We continue to diligently search.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Teen brothers go missing on California duck hunting trip.Butte County Sheriff’s Office

The rescue team consists of members of the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Yuba County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Marine Unit and Dive Team members, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, California Department of Fish and Wild Life and CAL FIRE.

The help of the public is currently not required with officialsstating, “do NOT call our dispatch center asking about volunteering to help.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“We appreciate it, but at this time we are not requesting assistance from the public,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Dec. 17. “We are receiving assistance today from several different law enforcement agencies from across Northern California. There are several boats out at the Afterbay searching today. We will provide an update as soon as it is available. Thank you.”

They then shared a picture of the brothers anda videoof the rescue operation, which included footage of the team on boats.

ABC affiliate KRCRreported that authorities are now shifting to a recovery operation.

“We are running a lot of sonar equipment trying to narrow down anomalies that we can further inspect with underwater ROVs, which are unmanned underwater vehicles, as well as divers. The search that we are doing right now is a recovery,” Sgt. Brian Evans, with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Unit, said, per the outlet.

source: people.com