Lost Hikers

Date: September 26, 2013
Contact: Traci Weaver, 208-527-1315

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the National Park Service is continuing the search for one of the two missing day-hikers from the Craters of the Moon National Monument near Arco, Idaho. One of the missing hikers was found Wednesday afternoon by an Army National Guard helicopter. The body of Jodean Elliott-Blakeslee was found during an aerial search over the park. The victim was found 1.5 miles west of the Tree Molds Trail and 2 miles southwest of the Tree Molds parking lot. It is believed she died of exposure.

Jodean Elliott-Blakeslee and Amelia Linkert were reported missing on Tuesday morning to the Butte County Sheriff's office. Their vehicle was found at the Tree Molds Trailhead parking lot, a popular trail area in the Monument.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office and National Park Service started searching Tuesday and have now focused the search within the Park boundaries adjacent to the Tree Molds trail area. Ground teams and rescue search dog teams as well as Army National Guard and Teton Interagency helicopter are assisting with the search over an area of approximately three square miles.