In the winter of 2023, 58-year-old Crystal Edna Cottle vanished while trying to make her way home to Springfield, Oregon. On January 4th, she was in Kelso, Washington, intending to take an Amtrak train. After visiting her daughter for the New Year's holiday, she unfortunately missed her train. The last confirmed communication from Crystal was after she missed her ride at the Kelso station. She was later seen on foot near Allen Street and Interstate 5 at exit 39 around 7:45 p.m. Her journey that evening is partially documented by video surveillance. She was recorded arriving at the ilani Casino in Ridgefield, Washington, around 8:20 p.m. and later leaving the adjacent Cowlitz Crossing Chevron at about 9:30 p.m. The final sighting of Crystal was as she walked alone onto the southbound on-ramp of Interstate 5 at Exit 16.
Crystal is described as a white female with blonde hair and hazel eyes, standing 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds. She has several distinguishing marks, including small circular scars at the base of her skull and neck, and a four-inch jagged scar on her left calf. A tattoo of the words “Natural Beauty†in a scripted font is on her left foot and ankle. It has been noted that Crystal has some mental health issues. The Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Kelso Police Department are the investigating agencies in her disappearance.
The circumstances surrounding Crystal's disappearance remain unclear. She was last seen walking onto a major interstate at night after a series of setbacks in her attempt to travel home. Her case is classified as an endangered missing person case. Despite the passage of time, her family and law enforcement continue to seek answers. An overview of the case indicates that after missing her train in Kelso, Crystal traveled to the ilani Casino and was last seen walking onto I-5, leaving a trail of questions about what happened to her that night. The lack of any contact since that evening is a source of great concern for those who know and love her.
Last Seen: Jan 04, 2023
