On the evening of January 13, 2009, 45-year-old Lynn Miller Stafford-Yilmaz, a resident of Bellevue and an English as a Second Language educator, drove her Ford Windstar minivan onto the M/V Puyallup ferry at Coleman Dock in Seattle. The ferry was bound for Bainbridge Island on its 10:55 p.m. crossing. When the vessel arrived at its destination, however, her van was found abandoned on the car deck. Stafford-Yilmaz, a wife and mother, was nowhere to be found.
The discovery of her unattended vehicle immediately raised alarms, initiating a search and a deeply troubling mystery.
Further investigation by Washington State Patrol revealed that some of Stafford-Yilmaz's personal belongings, including her purse, keys, and a cup of coffee, were left on an upper deck of the ferry. Witnesses confirmed seeing her at the terminal before departure and on board during the journey. An extensive search of the surrounding waters was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, involving a rescue helicopter and boat, with assistance from Seattle Police Harbor Patrol, the Seattle Fire Department, and Bainbridge Island's marine unit. Despite a thorough search of the area between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, no trace of her was found, and the active search was eventually suspended.
Detectives with the Washington State Patrol later concluded their investigation, stating they found no evidence of foul play or criminal activity associated with her disappearance. While the case remains an open missing person investigation, Stafford-Yilmaz's husband indicated that she had left behind a vague note, leading her family to believe she may have intended to take her own life. However, authorities have not officially classified the case as such. Her family's uncertainty was compounded by the fact that they were unaware of any reason for her to be on that particular ferry, believing she was supposed to have been at a library that night. The case of Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz is a somber tale of a woman who vanished during a routine ferry crossing, leaving behind only her vehicle and a few personal items, and a family grappling with unanswered questions.Last Seen: Jan 13, 2009
