Hildegard Hendrickson
Hildegard Hendrickson, 79-year-old
📍 Minnow Creek Trail, Leavenworth, Washington
🏛️ Shellane County Sheriff's Office
Case Summary
Hildegard Hendrickson, a 79-year-old experienced mushroom hunter from Seattle, disappeared on June 8, 2013, after traveling alone to the Minnow Creek Trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Her vehicle was found at the trailhead on June 9, but despite extensive search efforts totaling over 5,200 man-hours, she was never located. The case remains unsolved, with theories ranging from accidental injury on difficult terrain to foul play from a suspicious individual encountered in the area.
Timeline of Events
📞
2013-06-04
Last phone contact
Hildegard's last cell phone use; phone went to voicemail when son Andrew tried calling on June 8
👤
2013-06-08
Disappearance
Hildegard traveled alone to Minnow Creek Trail to pick morel mushrooms after speaking with Igor near Rock Creek Campground; her vehicle arrived at trailhead in afternoon
🔍
2013-06-09
Vehicle discovery
Igor reported Hildegard's light green 2012 Ford Focus at Minnow Creek Trailhead; search and rescue operations initiated
👥
2013-06-17
Suspicious individual encounters
Wanda and Lynne encountered an aggressive man in a metallic royal blue van with flatbed near trailhead; same day Michelle reported similar encounter with same individual
🕵️
2013-09-14
Final 2013 search
Cadaver dog conducted six-hour search of embankment after foul odor detected; no remains found; 5,224.5 total man-hours devoted to search
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Points of Interest / Key Leads
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Unidentified aggressive man in metallic royal blue van with flatbed, approximately 40 years old, 6 feet tall, overweight, with scar on nose and dirty hands; encountered by multiple witnesses on June 17, 2013; made threatening remarks about missing woman and carried large hunting knife
👤
person
Lead #2Christopher, driver of blue Chevrolet Astro van, initially suspected but cleared after interviews confirmed his account of being in area for mushroom picking
👤
person
Lead #3Gary, commercial mushroom harvester known to authorities with citations for harvesting violations; encountered by Wanda and Lynne on June 17
🔍
evidence
Lead #4Two paper bags of mushrooms found in vehicle trunk; cooler with snacks and water; maps and collection bags suggesting planned day trip
💡
clue
Lead #5Foul odor detected on September 12, 2013, from east side of road down steep embankment into Chickaman Creek drainage; later theorized to be bear activity during hunting season
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Case Information
Case Type:
Missing Person
Status:
Unsolved; Declared legally dead in 2015
Case Number:73
Started:June 4, 2013
Last Updated:September 8, 2025
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