In the small, remote town of Hāna on the eastern coast of Maui, a sense of unease settled over the community in early November of 2020. Valerie Park, an 83-year-old woman known to her loved ones as Val, was a familiar and beloved figure. A retired employee of the Parks and Recreation Department, she was deeply connected to her family, seeing her nieces and nephews, whom she had helped raise, on a daily basis. On the evening of November 5th, Valerie was at her residence.
By the following morning, around 5:00 a.m., it was discovered that she was gone. The quiet of the early morning was broken by the alarming discovery of her absence, leaving behind a void and a slew of unanswered questions for her family and the authorities.
The initial details of Valerie's disappearance painted a puzzling picture. She was last seen wearing a bright, multi-colored night robe, though it was considered possible she may have changed her clothing before she left. Crucially, her handbag, containing her money and identification, was left behind in her home, suggesting her departure was not planned. Valerie did not drive and, according to her family, it would be highly out of character for her to venture into the nearby water. Complicating the situation further were Valerie's health conditions; she suffered from dementia, required medication for high blood pressure, and was hard of hearing, often relying on lip-reading to communicate. There were conflicting reports about her last known location, with some sources stating she was in a facility and that her door was found to have been pried open from the inside. The Maui Police Department was alerted, and a public plea for assistance was issued, with the theory that she may have hitchhiked to the Kahului or Wailuku areas.
As the days turned into weeks, an extensive search of the area surrounding her home and the wider Hāna region was conducted, but tragically, it yielded no clues as to her whereabouts. The disappearance of a well-known elder from such a tight-knit community sent ripples of concern and sorrow throughout the island. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the heartfelt pleas from her family, the case grew cold. The lack of any substantial leads or sightings left her loved ones in a painful state of limbo, grappling with the unknown. The overview of Valerie Park's case is one of a sudden and perplexing disappearance of a vulnerable elderly woman from the safety of her home. The circumstances surrounding her departure, including her health issues and the items she left behind, have created a deeply troubling mystery that remains unsolved.Last Seen: Nov 5, 2020
