Overview
- Two hikers in Rose Valley, who found bones and clothing Sunday, alerted the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and triggered a coordinated search.
- One of the hikers led teams back to the remote site the next day, where officials recovered nearly complete skeletal remains along with clothing and personal items.
- A forensic odontologist compared the skull’s teeth to dental records and confirmed the remains as 33-year-old Hailey E. Athay.
- Detectives say further forensic work will determine cause and manner of death, and no suspects have been named by authorities.
- Athay was last seen in November 2024 and reported missing in January 2025, and relatives say she had planned to pick mushrooms with a man; her three daughters are now with family.