Account
Jan 07, 2014
May 26, 2023
Hildegard
Hendrickson
90
79
64 inches
180 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On a day meant for enjoying her passion, 79-year-old Hildegard Hendrickson vanished while on a mushroom picking expedition in the Wenatchee National Forest near Leavenworth, Washington. The last confirmed sighting of the experienced mushroom hunter was on June 8, 2013, near the Minnow Creek trailhead. Friends and family described her as a careful and knowledgeable forager, who had been practicing this hobby for nearly four decades. A retired Seattle University professor, where she had taught for almost 30 years, Hildegard was a respected figure in her community and an expert associated with the Puget Sound Mycological Society. Her vehicle was later discovered at the trailhead, unlocked, which raised immediate concerns for her well-being. The days following her disappearance saw an extensive search and rescue operation launched by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. Dozens of ground searchers, along with multiple K9 units, scoured the rugged terrain surrounding the Minnow Creek Trail and Basalt Peak area. Despite the massive effort, which involved over 5,200 man-hours, no trace of Hildegard was found. The active search was eventually suspended after more than a week of fruitless searching. The terrain was known to be challenging, and friends mentioned that due to a knee issue, she would likely not have ventured far from the trail. The mystery of what happened to Hildegard Hendrickson remains unsolved. While it is possible she succumbed to the elements or had a medical emergency in the vast wilderness, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of foul play. A suspicious individual was reportedly seen in the area around the time of her disappearance, though it is unknown if this person had any connection to the case. In 2015, with no new leads or evidence, Hildegard Hendrickson was legally declared dead. Her case is a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the wilderness and the enduring pain of not knowing the fate of a loved one. The overview of the case is one of a beloved and experienced individual who went to enjoy a day in nature and inexplicably vanished, leaving behind a community to grapple with her absence and the unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance.
Jun 08, 2013
Leavenworth
Washington
Chelan County
No
22940
Chelan County Sheriff's Office
Wenatchee
Washington
Chelan County
98801
Kevin Files
Detective
401 Washington Street, Washington
5096676851
County
Law Enforcement
13C05416
2013-06-11
Chelan County Sheriff's Office
Gray or Partially Gray
Gray
Gray
06/21/2026
