Searchers find missing 78-year-old woman dead near Hailey
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KIVI staff
HAILEY (KIVI) — Blaine County Search and Rescue found 78-year-old Susan Wilhelm dead Wednesday morning after a multi-day search in the Hailey area.
Wilhelm was found at approximately 11:15 a.m. among a group of willow trees, about a half mile from the end of Water Gulch Road, east of Alturas Elementary School, according to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
Wilhelm, who had dementia, was reported missing from Hailey’s Woodside neighborhood at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Police considered her endangered and were concerned for her safety.
She was last seen on foot near Glenbrook and the Toe of the Hill Trail in Hailey, wearing a jean jacket, jeans, a white-and-black striped sweater and glasses.
Blaine County Search and Rescue had announced Wednesday morning that it was suspending field operations. But after new camera footage showed Wilhelm walking near Alturas Elementary School, the Hailey Police Department and Blaine County Sheriff’s Office reactivated the search at 8 a.m.
Wednesday’s search was focused on Water Gulch Road and limited to officers and trained search and rescue members. A K-9 team located Wilhelm’s scent, which led searchers to her location, the sheriff’s office said.
During the multi-agency search, crews canvassed neighborhoods, made door-to-door contacts and used drones to search canyons and open fields. Flyers were distributed in English and Spanish. Search efforts also took crews to Bellevue, where witnesses reported seeing Wilhelm near the river.
“Over the past 3 days, we have had approximately 130 citizen volunteers and 50 law enforcement officers and BCSAR team members involved in this multi-agency search. We could not have asked for a better response from our community in stepping up to help one of our own,” Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis said.
Ballis and Hailey Police Chief Steve England thanked those who participated in the search. He said he would release a video with additional information about the search and recovery.
“We ask that you keep the family in your thoughts during this difficult time,” Ballis said.