Account
Jun 21, 2013
Jan 12, 2024
Maureen
Kelly
30
19
67 inches
150 lbs
Asian
Female
In the late afternoon of June 9, 2013, a 19-year-old woman named Maureen "Anu" Kelly made a decision that would leave her family and friends searching for answers for years to come. While camping with a group of friends at the Canyon Creek Campground, nestled within the vast Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Cougar, Washington, Maureen announced she was embarking on a "spiritual quest". At approximately 5:00 p.m., she removed her clothing and shoes, and, wearing only a fanny pack, walked away from the campsite. Her friends, who later reported her missing in the early hours of the following morning, said she seemed intent on this personal journey, telling them she would be back by midnight. The fanny pack she carried was believed to contain a few small items: a knife, some matches, and a compass. Immediate and extensive search efforts were launched by the Skamania County Sheriff's Office, involving ground teams, K-9 units, and helicopters. The terrain was challenging, characterized by steep, mountainous landscapes with dense timber and underbrush. Searchers were able to find some initial traces of Maureen's path; they discovered bare footprints matching her foot size. These tracks indicated that she had crossed the cold waters of Canyon Creek and headed north, climbing up toward Forest Service Road 54. However, the trail abruptly ended once it reached the paved road, and the search dogs were unable to pick up any further scent. Though the day had been mild, temperatures that night plummeted into the mid-40s to low 50s, a significant concern for someone without any clothing or shelter who would be vulnerable to hypothermia. Despite the exhaustive searches, no further signs of Maureen Kelly have ever been discovered. Her friends and family were left in a state of prolonged uncertainty, grappling with the mysterious circumstances of her disappearance. Investigators have stated that they do not suspect foul play was involved in her vanishing. The prevailing belief among authorities is that she likely succumbed to the harsh elements of the wilderness, perhaps becoming lost or injured during her quest. The case of Maureen Kelly is a heart-wrenching story of a young woman who walked into the woods on a personal journey and never returned, leaving behind only a faint trail and a mystery that endures in the dense forests of Washington.
Jun 09, 2013
Cougar
Washington
Skamania County
No
13750
Skamania County Sheriff's Office
Stevenson
Washington
Skamania County
98648
Jeremy Schultz
Detective
200 Vancouver Avenue, Washington
5094279490
County
Law Enforcement
13-04081
2013-06-10
Skamania County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/14/2026
