The person at the center of this case
Hildegard Hendrickson
Missing Person · Unsolved - Declared legally dead in 2015
1 year waiting · since 2025
Hildegard Hendrickson
Justice for Hildegard Hendrickson — the trail went cold in 2025, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Who was the unidentified territorial mushroom hunter in the blue van encountered by Wanda and Michelle on June 17? Was he present on June 8 when Hildegard disappeared?
👤
person
Lead #2Jeremy had argued with Hildegard about commercial mushroom harvesting and was in the area on June 8—what was the nature of their conflict and could he provide additional details about that day?
📍
location
Lead #3Why did Hildegard venture onto the difficult Minnow Creek Trail despite mentioning her tired knee and rough terrain concerns just two days earlier on June 6?
Hildegard Hendrickson, a 79-year-old experienced mushroom forager, disappeared on June 8, 2013, while hiking the Minnow Creek Trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Her vehicle was found at the trailhead with her purse and personal items intact, but she was never located despite one of the most extensive search operations ever conducted, involving over 5,200 man-hours. The case remains unsolved, with theories ranging from a fall on difficult terrain to a possible encounter with a territorial individual in the area, though no conclusive evidence has emerged.
Case
#73
Shellane County Sheriff's Office
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
🔍
evidence
Lead #4The psychic coordinates provided by Andrew were already-searched areas—were there any unexplored zones or access points that search teams may have missed?
💡
clue
Lead #5What caused the foul odor detected on September 12 in the Chickaman Creek drainage that the cadaver dog could not confirm two days later?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Hildegard Hendrickson was a renowned mycologist and Seattle University professor, widely regarded as the "godmother of Washington mushroom hunting" who mysteriously vanished in 2013 during a mushroom foraging trip in the Cascades.
Timeline of Events
📞
2013-06-04
Last phone contact
Hildegard's last communication with family; cell phone not used after this date
👁️
2013-06-08
Last sighting
Hildegard seen starting up Minnow Creek Trail at approximately 1:00 PM wearing a tan vest and carrying a basket; vehicle arrived at trailhead in afternoon
👤
2013-06-09
Reported missing
Family unable to reach Hildegard; vehicle discovered at Minnow Creek Trailhead with personal items inside
👥
2013-06-17
Suspicious encounter
Wanda encountered an aggressive man in a blue van at trailhead with hunting knife; same individual reported by Michelle; Christopher later identified but cleared
🕵️
2013-09-14
Final 2013 search
Cadaver dog conducted six-hour search of embankment after foul odor detected; odor theorized to be bear-related activity; search yielded no results
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:June 4, 2013
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:June 4, 2013
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Submit a Tip
Login Required
Please log in to submit tips for the Hildegard Hendrickson case.