Missing woman search in Shenandoah

[Anonymous]

There were enough people in her life that she would have told somebody something about her plans to go hiking. Even if she had been despondent over something, I really don't think she would have hiked deep into the woods never to be seen again. She loved her family and wouldn't have left them hanging like that.

It does sound like foul play and that she is not missing because she wants to be missing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years. Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails. I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years. Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails. I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

I hike by myself quite often and I text my DH the second my foot hits the trail head. If it's a long hike, like Old Rag and I'm doing it on a quiet weekday I tell him to get worried if I don't text back in 4hrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years. Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails. I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

I hike by myself quite often and I text my DH the second my foot hits the trail head. If it's a long hike, like Old Rag and I'm doing it on a quiet weekday I tell him to get worried if I don't text back in 4hrs.

PP who hikes by herself and doesn't leave a note here. That is good. I'm not saying I am doing the "right" or "responsible" thing by not telling people more info--I'm just saying it's not impossible or even unheard of for women to do this. I don't know this woman or what her hiking habits were...but it's possible she was like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I agree. Actually, every solo hiker I know, regardless of gender, tell someone exactly what trail they are going on and to expect a call in the next couple hours when
the hike is over. I also agree that Shenandoah doesn't seem like a place in which you'd get lost hiking. Everything is clearly marked. The one thing I don't understand
about this scenario, is why she wasn't reported missing until Friday? I must have missed something.

Well she and her husband were separated. And her next scheduled work shift wasn't until Friday. And work is who reported her missing (or at least noticed and called her family.) I don't talk to my parents daily. But I'm also not separated/living alone.

Thank you! That clears that up. I didn't know they were separated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years. Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails. I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

Sure you could slip and hurt yourself... but Shenandoah is nothing like hiking some of the crazier trails in Zion, or Yosemite, or rim of the grand canyon, or other remote mountain steep crazy trails where you could plunge to your death. At worst at Shenandoah you'd either knock yourself unconscious and be found on the trail, or be hurt badly and try to drag your self back to the parking lot.... There's no "plunging" unless you are really, really doing some foolish stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP. I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard. You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road. Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality. Also really hard to accidently fall. It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case." It would be very impulsive. Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone. But most women are going to tell someone their plans.

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency. Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years. Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails. I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

Sure you could slip and hurt yourself... but Shenandoah is nothing like hiking some of the crazier trails in Zion, or Yosemite, or rim of the grand canyon, or other remote mountain steep crazy trails where you could plunge to your death. At worst at Shenandoah you'd either knock yourself unconscious and be found on the trail, or be hurt badly and try to drag your self back to the parking lot.... There's no "plunging" unless you are really, really doing some foolish stuff.

Mother Nature is also just more forgiving here, more gentle and hospitable to humans. I think t was a hike in Big Bend where I finally really understood what it was like to hike somewhere where nature merely tolerated humans at best.

[Anonymous]

Guys she's not a missing hiker. The discussion is useful for hiker safety but is not applicable here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys she's not a missing hiker. The discussion is useful for hiker safety but is not applicable here.

How do you know she's not a missing hiker? Everyone is speculating at best, but there is not proof she wasn't out hiking just as there is not any proof she was abducted.

[Anonymous]

Now they are saying she called in sick on Wednesday?

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/127262666-story

If she and her husband ARE separated, and she contacted her father on Wednesday, when was the last time anyone actually SAW her?

[Anonymous]

I actually used to work with the husband, at a law enf. office (I was a civilian there). He is a really nice guy. I'd be shocked if he did something in this case. But I know, do you ever really know anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Word through the grapevine is she and her husband were planning to split- hence why he wasn't the one who reported her, but rather her job did 3 days later. Her soon to be ex-husband is also a cop, and the car is most likely a plant.

Wow. Now that complicates matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys she's not a missing hiker. The discussion is useful for hiker safety but is not applicable here.

How do you know she's not a missing hiker? Everyone is speculating at best, but there is not proof she wasn't out hiking just as there is not any proof she was abducted.

Its all speculation for everyone posting here, but there are 3 main possibilities in order of likelihood here as I see it:

1) She met with foul play in the park (her body is most likely there). This happened to Chandra Levy in a more heavily-trafficked park, don't forget. And we know from the Jesse Mathews case that repeat predators have walked among us and gone undetected for decades.

2) Natural causes death (aneurism/stroke, heart-attack, snake-bite) - and maybe she sought a short-cut back to her car through the woods? (I am not familiar with the area though; how remote/overgrown is it there?) or

3) Foul play and she was taken from the park against her will.

There is also the possibility she wanted to disappear & is in hiding someplace, but from the news I've seen, there don't seem to be any clues pointing to that possibility. For someone to do that, there would have to be major, major problems in their lives and I'm sure investigators have checked that one out.

[Anonymous]

Beyond her dad's location, do we have reason to think she is in the park, or went to the park? It doesn't seem like she's an avid biker, or told anyone she was going there. Is it just the car? Or did I miss something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys she's not a missing hiker. The discussion is useful for hiker safety but is not applicable here.

How do you know she's not a missing hiker? Everyone is speculating at best, but there is not proof she wasn't out hiking just as there is not any proof she was abducted.

Well, her car was parked in a "remote" part of the park. It's hard to find a remote part of SNP. There is one main road, with parking areas to go on trails, plus a couple campgrounds. I'm not sure even how she could drive off of the main drag unless her car was driven along and behind big Meadow, and then onto grass or who knows. Did anyone hear where her car was found?