Hildegard Hendrickson

Hildegard visited Minnow Creek Trail area with Wanda and Lynne but decided not to hike due to rough terrain and her tired knee; all three returned to Seattle

Hildegard's green Ford Focus arrived at Minnow Creek Trailhead in the afternoon; she had been directed to the Basalt Peak Burn area by Igor near Rock Creek Campground that morning; she never returned from the trail

Igor reported Hildegard's vehicle at the trailhead; her purse with all identification and cash remained in the locked trunk; extensive search operations began with 14 ground personnel and bloodhound teams

Wanda and Lynne met a man in a metallic blue van with flatbed near the trailhead; he was in his forties, six feet tall, overweight, with dirty hands and a scar on his nose; he carried hunting knife and made disturbing comments about the missing person; same day Michelle reported similar encounter with same individual

Cadaver dog conducted six-hour search of Chickaman Creek drainage embankment after foul odor detected; odor later attributed to bear activity; no evidence of Hildegard found