A woman goes hiking and fails to return Louise Chaput, a 52-year-old Canadian psychologist, was last seen on November 15, 2001, when she arrived at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Lodge in New Hampshire for a solo hiking trip. She had planned to spend a few days hiking around the White Mountains. After asking for recommendations for a short hike to stretch her legs, she headed toward the Lost Pond Trail.
Chaput was reported missing when she failed to return home as expected on November 20, 2001.
Her car was found parked at the Direttissima Trailhead, near the Lost Pond Trail, but Chaput herself remained missing. Days later, on November 22, 2001—Thanksgiving Day—her body was found near Glen Ellis Falls. She had been stabbed multiple times, and her death was ruled a homicide. While her car keys and some belongings were missing, her vehicle remained untouched.
Despite extensive investigations, no suspects have been identified, and the murder is believed to have been random. Her family continues to seek justice, and law enforcement remains hopeful that new leads may eventually emerge in this cold case.
