On September 19, 2004, 79-year-old Olief Edmonds Nash and her 81-year-old sister, Ivy Edmonds Hutchinson, embarked on a camping trip to Butler Island, a remote wooded area three miles off the coast of Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County, Florida. Nash, an experienced outdoorswoman, owned a shack on the island and was known for her frequent camping excursions, often equipped with a shotgun and a chainsaw. Her family described her as a skilled camper capable of sourcing her own food if needed. Hutchinson was also considered hardy and capable, though less familiar with the island than her sister. The sisters set out in a motorless aluminum rowboat with camping gear but no boat safety equipment.
The pair had planned to return to the mainland on September 20. When they failed to do so, they were reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. on September 21, prompting a search. At the time of their disappearance, Hurricane Ivan was churning in the Gulf of Mexico. A fisherman had reportedly warned them about the weather conditions and urged them to reconsider their trip, but the sisters were determined to proceed.
Despite search efforts by the Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, no trace of the women or their boat was ever found. The route to Butler Island is through shallow waters, and it is believed that had their boat capsized, they would have been able to wade and swim to shore. However, investigators speculate that the strong winds from the approaching hurricane may have pushed their small boat eastward into deeper waters. Olief Edmonds Nash and Ivy Edmonds Hutchinson are presumed to have perished in the Gulf of Mexico.
Last Seen: Sep 19, 2004
