A man who walked away from Growlersburg Conservation Camp in El Dorado County on April 1, 2026, was quickly apprehended by authorities, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
The Incident
At around 7:40 a.m., camp staff conducted a routine headcount and discovered that 40-year-old Jose F. Zamora was missing. After confirming his absence through an emergency count, CDCR staff immediately took action. Agents from the CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety were deployed to locate Zamora.
Within minutes, Zamora was found near the camp and was returned to custody without incident. He was promptly transported back to prison, where he will be rehoused. The case will now be referred to the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether escape charges will be filed.
Background on Zamora
Zamora, who was sentenced to two years for second-degree robbery, had been serving his time at Growlersburg Conservation Camp since December 29, 2025, after being received from Los Angeles County on August 25, 2025.
CDCR’s Track Record
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation highlighted that 99 percent of individuals who have escaped or walked away from adult institutions, camps, or community programs since 1977 have been apprehended. The quick recovery of Zamora demonstrates the department’s ability to swiftly respond to such incidents.
