911-dispatch-error · La Paz County, Arizona, near Arizona-California border

What happened after a 911 dispatcher made a horrific mistake on Amanda Nenigar's emergency call?

What happened?

After a 911 dispatcher incorrectly converted Amanda Nenigar's GPS coordinates, leading to a search in the wrong area, her body was found over a month later in a remote desert location. An investigation into the California Highway Patrol's handling of the call is ongoing, and her family is considering a negligence lawsuit.

Unresolved or unknown

Last checked: Jun 17, 2026
Sources: CBS News; ABC10

Timeline

  1. Amanda Nenigar makes a confused 911 call from a desert area near the Arizona-California border at approximately 8:23 a.m.

  2. California Highway Patrol (CHP) units search for approximately five hours, from 9:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the wrong area due to an incorrect conversion of GPS coordinates.

  3. Amanda Nenigar is reported missing by her family.

  4. Nenigar's 2010 blue Toyota Camry is found stuck on a boulder in a remote area of La Paz County, Arizona.

  5. Amanda Nenigar's body is located under a tree approximately 1.5 miles from her car in La Paz County, Arizona.

  6. California Highway Patrol releases a statement confirming an investigation is underway regarding the incident.

Receipts