The search for a missing Edmonton woman resumed Thursday, with Rocky Mountain House RCMP and Search and Rescue scouring the area where her vehicle was found.
Anina Hundsdoerfer, 32, was reported missing by her roommate on Sunday, but her last known location was at her office in Edmonton on Saturday between 1 and 3 p.m.
Her vehicle was found abandoned Tuesday afternoon on the side of the Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 734), about 25 kms north of the North Fork Road junction, Hwy 752. Staff Sgt. Bill Laidlaw said the area is very remote.
“What we have out there is basically rural road country,” said Laidlaw. “Where the vehicle is found was probably closer to Nordegg, and that would be the first human habitation in the area.”
The vehicle was found by an Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer, who then notified Edmonton police’s missing persons unit, who contact Rocky RCMP to confirm the finding.
Edmonton police said that while there is no indication of foul play, Hundsdoerfer’s disappearance is out of character and “there are concerns for her well-being.”
The isolated area is about an hour away from Rocky Mountain House, about 60 kms south of Nordegg. She had left her cross-country skis at home when she left.
Laidlaw said it looks like the only prints of any description that may have been around the vehicle when they arrived on scene were that of a grader operator that was working.
“We have checked a couple of cabins. There are ranger cabins and she was not in them,” said Laidlaw.
“We’re in there digging and waiting for the weather to clear in hopes of getting somebody up in the air to do some search and rescue. Right now we’re limited to ground and we’re limited by the amount of snow, tremendous amount of snow in there.”
The search continued Thursday in hopes of finding the woman.
“We’re looking for any information from anybody who might have been out in that area, or even anyone who may have seen that vehicle in the Red Deer area,” said Laidlaw.
Hundsdoerfer’s blue Toyota Echo was recovered by police, but Laidlaw said they hope to get in touch with someone who may have seen it between Sunday and Tuesday. The vehicle is a two-door with Alberta licence plate HUZ 936.
Hundsdoerfer is described as Caucasian about 1.75 cms (five feet nine inches) tall and weighs about 72 kgs (160 pounds). She has shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. She may be wearing a burgundy long winter coat, dark form-fitting pants and glasses.
Anyone with information that may assist in locating Hundsdoerfer is asked to contact either the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone, or the Rocky Mountain House RCMP at 403-845-2881. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com