Courtier, 38, was found alive in the Utah national park on October 18, 12 days after she had last been seen on a private shuttle bus arriving to a parking lot near trailheads. Breaking crime and justice news on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Additionally, we have determined that the disclosure of this information would shed little or no light on the performance of the agencys statutory duties.. Read all of CrimeOnlines coverage of Holly Courtiers disappearance and rescue here. as the widely circulating rumors and tips claimed. Click here for all files related to the investigation. As of mid-October, Search and Rescue teams with five K-9 Units from the Utah Search Dogs and a drone operator from the Grand Canyon National Park Emergency Service Team were trying to locate Holly. Anyone wanting to ride the shuttle MUST pre-purchase a pass and the "waiting list" is long so you have to buy them days - even weeks in advance. and it's been this way all summer long. "If she had been drinking that water, unless she had some really high immune system, she would've been very, very ill and probably unable to come out on her own. Despite a massive search-and-rescue effort, Courtier was not able to be located until she turned up 12 days later. Where would she have been able to get a ticket on such short notice? We pointed out that it was not a typical circumstance.. She disappeared for twelve days before authorities were tipped off by a fellow park visitor about her whereabouts. Holly Courtier, 38, was reported missing Oct. 6 and found safe Oct. 18. Did you encounter any technical issues? According to multiple reports and family statements, Courtier did not tell her family that she was traveling to Zion. In October, southern Utah was catapulted into the national spotlight after a California woman was found after two weeks missing in Zion National Park. Could we have possibly figured out how it happened? On October 13, crews spotted gear on the Minotaur Tower near Angels Landing. Her daughter, Kailey Chambers, says she was an experienced hiker and familiar with Zion National Park because they visited together the month before for her 19th birthday, exploring the area around The Narrows. They scoured Emerald Pools, Lady Mountain and West Rim places reachable from the Grotto trailhead and other spots but failed to find her. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax appreciated. Several images were also released of her tattoos, which include lightning bolt and feather on her forearms, a star on the inside of her right ankle, a double infinity on her left wrist, and a sun and moon on her right wrist. Drones and helicoptersflew throughout the park but didn't catch anything. However, I dont think it wouldve been an ethical use of taxpayer money for us to actually investigate it. Holly's daughter posted a video on a social media site that tries to repair & normalize their actions but never explains the oddities and discrepancies. Donate to the newsroom now. ", Cashin Correspondence About Holly Courtier by Spectrum Media on Scribd. Courtier was luckily seen by another person visiting the park, leading to her safe recovery. Park rangers said Sunday that they located her after receiving a credible tip from a park visitor that they had seen Holly at the park. The redactions appear to go far beyond protecting privacy. A summary in the logs says Zion was alerted to Courtier's disappearance by email. Instead, sheriffs officials focused their investigation on whether Courtiers disappearance was a part of an elaborate GoFundMe fraud scheme, as the widely circulating rumors and tips claimed. For other inquiries, Contact Us. raises questions in Zions missing person case of Holly Courtier. The searchers were assigned certain areas to check, according to the unredacted portion of the narrative written by the person who found Courtier. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The sister of missing hiker Holly Courtier has hit back at criticisms of her siblings story about disappearing for Crazy," Fitzgerald said. Everywhere on the internet, an abundance of helpful resources provide valuable insight about blogging. Doesn't this blow away Holly's claim that she just hopped in her car spontaneously and drove all night (back in early October and didn't have a phone so she couldn't have ordered them online) to get to Zion & ride the shuttle? Foods were slowly being introduced back into Courtier's diet after she was found. Just a couple new things..don't have much but I hate for this story to just slip away without trying to get the hidden facts here. First- this article (link at the end of next paragraph) about Zion National Park and the way the shuttle passes are issued. Kelly also said her mother often solo-hiked. It seems suspicious that in a well-hiked area with a lot of visitors she could not have raised help, especially as her head injury was from a branch knock, not a fall. WebZion missing hiker investigation. She had lost a dramatic amount of weight and was suffering from a concussion, severe dehydration, kidney failure and foot injuries. WCSO was counseled as an "outside set of professional eyes" by the NPS during the search, the investigation said. While most of the documents were heavily redacted, the National Park Service claiming privacy exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act, some information can be gleaned. On October 17, the day before the rescue, another person said they came across a tan hammock which seemed to "contain a small human" with a blue hat underneath it. Whatever the case for your loved ones disappearance, a private investigator can be extremely helpful in finding and bringing back your loved one. A sheriff's sergeant in Utah has expressed doubts over the story of a female 'Zion hiker', who claimed to have survived for 12 days without food and water after getting lost. As I made my way closer to the object, the area opened up and I could clearly see a hammock and a [redacted word] laying in the hammock.. Once she hit her head, she did not have the energy to walk out, Strong said. She was a lucky lady, after suffering a head injury, reportedly after hitting her head on a branch whilst setting up her hammock. If you want to have immediate results, the internet may be your best bet yet. She was extremely lucky to be alive, but was it a legitimate disappearance, or was it staged? Zion National Parks Acting Chief of Interpretation Amanda Rowland told Fox News that Courtier was able to leave of her own capability with minimal assistance following her rescue. she had hit her head and became disoriented. But that entire narrative is blacked out except for a few phrases, such as stated that. The primary 10-page report on the search is mostly redacted. We fully support the findings of the National Park Service investigation and believe their investigation into the incident was thorough and well executed., Despite the thorough investigation conducted by the National Park Service, Utah State Code does not grant them the authority to investigate violations of Utah law, the release continued. This comes after Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, was reported missing for two weeks in October 2020. The daughter also said that she and her mother, who both live in southern California, had visited Zion National Park together the previous month. A Woodland Hills family is breathing a sigh of relief this week since the recovery of a mother who had been missing for almost two weeks. "The Sherrif's sergeant has made it 10 times worse for [Kailey]," Strong said at the time. Here's an interesting cache of 7 glass vials with liquid inside The fact that that didn't happen tells me that they did not find any significant injury to her that would've prompted them to do that.". The Salt Lake Tribune, along with other news outlets, requested the material under the Freedom of Information Act nearly five months ago. Darrel Cashin noted in an interview with local media that the water in the Virgin River is toxic and unsafe to drink. After 12 days she would have needed to drink water from somewhere unless she brought in a large amount into the park. Holly Courtier, the 38-year-old woman rescued after disappearing for nearly two weeks in Utahs Zion National Park, was severely dehydrated and had lost 15 pounds when she was found earlier this week, her older sister told CNN. The search efforts cost the Park $60,000+ (not including what was spent privately). She was hungry, dehydrated, and weakened near a river contaminated by a toxic algae bloom. Courtiers family may have had to settle for an educated guess by law enforcement that she was attacked by a wild animal. The sheriffs office said in the news release that investigators had not at that time found any evidence to support the theory that the incident was committed intentionally as an effort to achieve financial gain. A request for further comment was not immediately returned. Its not a crime, and its not under our jurisdiction, so we ended it where we did., A Zion official told ABC4 News on Thursday the parks final report will be made public as soon as possible.. Her potassium levels were extremely low, Jaime Strong, Courtiers sister, told CNN. Courtier was described as 5 foot 3 inches with brown hair and blue eyes. 10/31/2 HOLLY Courtier is a Utah mother who was found alive in Zion national park after she went missing on a hiking trip. Her family said she had no phone with her, and did not tell anyone of her hiking plans. In the news release, the Washington County Sheriffs Office reiterated an earlier statement that the department was only involved in a consultation role [in the missing persons investigation]. She was a lucky lady, after suffering a head injury, reportedly after hitting her head on a branch whilst Did Holly Courtier intend to benefit from a staged disappearance? In the case of Holly Courtier, if she had not been located, her disappearance may have never entered a database. An official placed an orange "overdue" sticker on the car, but a day later it was missing. Officials find no fraud in missing Zion hiker investigation In December, The Spectrum obtained the correspondence between Sgt. Because the harm to personal privacy is greater than whatever public interest may be served by disclosure, release of the information would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of these individuals, the park service wrote in a cover letter to The Tribune. Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, went missing on Oct. 6 after getting off a shuttle bus at the park in Utah. All rights reserved. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile (590 km2) park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to 2,640 ft (800 m) deep. Courtiers sister also said that she had been fasting prior to the start of her trip, suggesting that the lack of food intake, which Courtier had reportedly planned to continue during her hiking trip, caused her disorientation and dehydration. Her family said Courtier suffered a concussion while setting up her hammock along the river, becoming so disoriented she couldnt call for help or take more than a few steps without collapsing. A Zion official told ABC4 News that Courtier was able to leave the park with her family with minimal assistance. Due to heavy redaction, nothing else can definitively be derived from the summary that the public did not already know. She was praying to be found, and we were all praying to find her. Donate to Report for America here. Holly Courtier was dropped off at the Grotto parking area by a private shuttle and was scheduled to be picked up at 4.40 pm the same day. Season 3 "The Mummy". She was in over her head and had no way to get out.. More on Zion vandalism: 'Worst I've ever seen': First patrol since summer, rangers find human waste in Zion. The park service stated that the deletions were all justified by the need to protect the privacy of all involved. ", On October 13, someone said they came across a "[redacted] with brown hair and a blue backpack" but couldn't see their face, but noticed they were sleeping and "told [redacted] children to not disturb.". Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Darrell Cashin commented on the circumstances of Courtiers recovery that were inconsistent with his 25 years of training and experience. Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, is a mother who went missing in a national park in Utah for twelve days. Also - there appear to be a couple sightings of Holly camping or sleeping in a relatively populated area - which came from reports of other Zion visitors after the search was underway. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Embarking on a spiritual journey, Courtier left California in the middle of the night and did not tell her family where was going, planning to disconnect from technology, pray and read the Bible, and fast, according to her family. Holly Courtier had arrived in the area of the park on October 6 by virtue of a private shuttle bus that was meant to pick her up from the park the same day. Were just so thankful for all the people who came out, who searched, the people in the town who washed clothes, brought food, Strong said. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Im sure people walked by yelling for her., The statements that the family is giving and the statements that the park is giving dont add up, Cashin added. As to what exactly happened to Courtier during those 12 days and why, the sheriffs office said it didnt believe it was their role to uncover. Eventually, however, they understand there is something missing to the equation. Latest Videos. ", According to Holly's daughter, Kailey Chambers. Those that follow these courses do so faithfully and unwavering; they want to make money and they believe their adherence to the guidelines will produce quick cash. She did not return for the scheduled pick up later that day. Cashin says its a high possibility Courtier would have died if she was drinking the river water for 12 days. But early on in her hike this month, she hit her head and became disoriented, her daughter previously told CNN. In looking for a missing person in your life, you need to acknowledge that it will take a great toll on your life, be it emotional, spiritual or physical. the sheriff's office said it received "numerous tips", Despite a massive search-and-rescue effort, Courtier's daughter said her mother had hit her head and become disoriented in the park. Park rangers were able to locate her after they received a credible tip from a park visitor that they had seen Courtier within the park. While the circumstances of her disappearance still remain murky, her family is overjoyed to have her back. There are two reports from October 18, when she was rescued, but neither werein the area she was found nor detail how she was found. For Holly Courtiers family, they now have the answers they need and their loved one back in their embrace. Before her disappearance, Courtier - described as an experienced The following items were possibly be with her: an Osprey blue multi-day pack, a yoga mat, a Rumpl NanoLoft puffy blanket and a camouflage double-sized hammock. Security cameras at the entrances and exits of the park showed her entering, but not exiting. She definitely thought she could fast longer than she could.. Behind the scenes: How I reported on Holly Courtier and answers to your questions. Kailey Chambers, Courtiers daughter, previously said her mother told her she was so dehydrated she couldnt open her mouth., Earlier this week, Chambers said foods were slowly being introduced back into Courtiers diet, adding, My moms recovery is my top priority right now.. There are many possible reasons for their disappearance. Were fact-finders.. Courtier was found by search and rescue crews after she was spotted by another park visitor who sent a tip to park rangers, the National Parks Servicesaid in a press release. In all, the search and rescue cost $60,192. "We would like to thank the rangers and search teams who relentlessly looked for her day and night and never gave up hope.". Holly Courtier, 38, was found in Zion Park on October 18 after the hiker had been the subject of a frantic search for the nearly two weeks that she was missing. 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Call or Text (317) 951-1100 |, 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Call or Text, was found alive October 18 in Zion National Park in Utah. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 reptiles inhabit the park's four life zones: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. How her story led to an online frenzy, How I reported on Holly Courtier and answers to your questions, 'Worst I've ever seen': First patrol since summer, rangers find human waste in Zion, Cashin Correspondence About Holly Courtier, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. There appear to be a few more people confirming that Holly & her family are now promoting certain hiking & clothing items online. Darrell Cashin of the Washington County Sheriff's Office gave a statement to ABC 4 questioning how Courtier could have survived the nearly two weeks without clean drinking water, a statement whicha sheriff's office public information officersaid later was just a perspective from an "expert witness and not in an official investigating capacity. She did not make the return trip in the shuttle bus however. On Oct. 19, Zion National Park spokesperson Amanda Rowland released a statement regarding the Oct. 18 rescue of Holly Suzanne Courtier, a 38-year-old from Los Angeles who was last seen Oct. 6 exiting a shuttle at The Grotto shuttle stop, which is the starting point for several trails, including Angels Landing and the West Rim Trail. The investigation did not delve into Courtier's disappearance; instead, it focused on the possibility that she may have staged the incident to raise money. Courtier, then a 38-year-old Californian who had recently lost her nanny job because of the coronavirus pandemic, was dropped off by private shuttle on the morning of Oct. 6 at the Grotto, a busy spot inside Zion Canyon that accesses the Kayenta Trail. In 2020, between October 6 and 18, temperatures ranged from 3 to to 34 C (37 to 93 to F). "This wouldnt have been possible without the network of people who came together.. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Darrell Cashins team was part of the recovery mission that found Courtier a half-mile away from the parking lot where she was last seen. She was found safely on Sunday, the authorities said. They spotted the hammock, so that was the call that was made to the Rangers., The National Park Service said search and rescue teams found Courtier on Sunday after receiving a credible tip from a park visitor that they had seen Courtier within the park. A park spokeswoman said authorities found Courtier in a thickly vegetated area along the Virgin River.. Then, more than a week later, a visitor reported seeing a small human in a hammock, according to an unredacted passage in one document. She was praying to be found, and we were all praying to find her.. In total, the hourly pay for all employees was $64,732.50. 12 days later she was found after some visitors to the park spotted her . Cashin said he doubted this, adding that park officials said she was able to leave the park largely unassisted. This suggests strongly that she did indeed return to her car during the time she claimed to "LOST". Cashin also questioned how Courtier was able to survive for nearly two weeks alone without food and with little water, as her family said. Courtiers family members have insisted that Courtier was in grave physical condition when she was rescued, though Zion National Parks Acting Chief of Interpretation Amanda Rowland told Fox News that Courtier was able to leave of her own capability with minimal assistance following her rescue. He or she completed the assignment without spotting anything, but decided to explore a social path, or a user-created trail, that led off the official trail. The day after Courtier was rescued, her daughter told CNN that Courtier became disoriented after hitting her head on a tree, and chose to stay near a water source the Virgin River believing it was her best chance of survival. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Anyone with information is urged to contact the Washington County Sheriffs office via email at [email protected]. Holly Courtier planned to go on spiritual journey, fast inside Zion National Park, family says. The 21 documents tied to the incident include 136 pages released Wednesday which include mostly search logs and maps. Updated. Data surrounding the exact amount of people who have disappeared in our national parks system is unreliable or inaccurate, depending on the source, because the government does not invest in resources for tracking these incidents. the Washington County Sheriffs Office announced in a news release earlier this week that it would be opening an investigation, that her mother had lost her job as a nanny due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still unexplained are how she got lost in such a busy part of Utahs most heavily visited national park and why it took so long to find her. What follows is over 30 pages of nearly completely redacted text messages, with no indicationwho the sender or receiver is. [Redacted] was transported by Park Rangers to the Zion Emergency Operations Center to [redacted]who had already been notified that [redacted] had been found," the report said. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4 News) The Washington County Sheriffs Office is now revealing the findings of a criminal investigation into Holly Courtier, the California woman who spent 12 days inside the desolate vastness of Zion National Park. Officials found no evidence that Courtier had committed a crime. I came to a small social path that looked unused but led to an area of dense vegetation. Courtiers story is not an isolated incident by any means. A woman went missing for 12 days in Zion National Park. Rescuers searched for her with drones and K-9 units after she dissappeared. It's an update on the official investigation into what really happened - The Washington County Sheriffs office has opened an investigation into the 12-day disappearance of Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park. Her levels of her kidney function were very bad. Courtier's People are wanting to know how or why it happened, Crouse said. Holly Courtier, 38, was found on October18 in the Emerald Pools area after an extensive12-daysearch. Temperatures in the park in October are an average high of 19C, 66 F and low of 4C, 39 F. Its one of everyones worst nightmares you realize that someone close to you is missing. Video broadcast Thursday March 11, 2021 on Today in LA. 2. The disappearances of persons in national parks over the years have concluded more favorably in recent years with improvements in technology and the amount of resources available to aid in searches in national parks. river contaminated by a toxic algae bloom. Holly Suzanne Courtier, the California There was ZERO mention of her being weak, needing assistance, falling down, passing out, or displaying any kind of injury/concussion/dehydration/disability. In the days following the rescue, Courtier's daughter said her mother had hit her head and become disoriented in the park; while her sister, Jaime Strong, said Holly never drank from a nearby river that it was possibly toxic. She was very disoriented and very dizzy, Jaime Strong, Courtiers sister, told ABC News. Our job is to be objective. How her story led to an online frenzy. 6:55 AM EDT, Wed October 21, 2020, Hiker found after going missing for almost 2 weeks, Taken 8-23 Los Angeles Holly gave birth to Kailey when she was 19, the same age her daughter is now. Holly Courtier was found alive on Sunday, October 18, 2020. In an interview with ABC4 News on Oct. 20, clarified Holly did not drink the river water. Courtiers family members, who together have given several media interviews as Courtier herself has refrained from public comment, have at times appeared to contradict each other, including in statements about how Courtier survived and her condition prior to arriving to the park. For instance, the map indicating where Courtier was found is blacked out. In other cases, your loved one may have been the victim of kidnapping, abduction, or, in the worst case, murder. Its definitely a lot of area to cover. Her sister said "Once she hit her head, she did not have the energy to walk out. "She is completely detached from reality but not a danger to herself or others so we released her to the family. One document references an investigative report and a taped interview with Courtier, but those were not among the materials released Thursday. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. Holly Courtier planned to go on spiritual journey, fast inside Zion National Park, family says. Courtier, 38, was We are also so grateful to the countless volunteers who were generous with their time, resources, and support.. That is why, there are several ways that you can track a long lost person down, be it over the internet through people search engines or through government records or, in extreme cases, through the paid services of a private investigator. Based on our local authority and jurisdiction, the Sheriffs Office had an obligation to the public to investigate the criminal allegations which were being presented.. Pages and pages of cleared campsites and trails, and found some footprints,to no avail. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (Rick Bowmer | AP file photo) This Sept. 15, 2015, file photo, shows Zion National Park near Springdale. We never found any evidence to support any of the claims that any criminal activity took place, Crouse said. I decided to investigate the area, the person wrote. Read previous coverage: A woman went missing for 12 days in Zion National Park. Washington County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Sgt. She was well equipped e.g. A supplemental report describes how an official teamed with two volunteers to investigate the Oct. 17 tip of a possible sighting of the missing hiker. The family could not afford to keep paying her. View our online Press Pack. bulletin boards, and websites, with a contact number to call if anyone comes see an individual resembling, . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In a statement, Courtier's family said they were "overjoyed" that she had been found. WebFOUND: Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, has been found safe in Zion National Park. At the point she went missing, Courtier was 5 foot 3 and around 100 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes and was wearing a black Patagonia Nano puff jacket, a dark tank top, Danner brown hiking boots with red laces and a Kuhl cream open-front hoody. Despite being close to a river, her family said Courtier couldn't drink the water, because of toxicity concerns. Courtiers family expressed their gratitude in a statement, We would like to thank the rangers and search teams who relentlessly looked for her day and night and never gave up hope. For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. ST. GEORGE, Utah After a lengthy investigation into the case of a hiker who went missing in Zion National Park, authorities concluded Friday there is no evidence of fraud in subsequent fundraising campaigns. Those are the types of questions I think everybody has. Courtier, 38, was reported missing in Zion National Park on Oct. 6. Her potassium levels were extremely low. MLB with no BALLS, Lady in The woods with no Plan, and Voting irritation.. There are various organizations and helplines that provide advice and support to missing people as well as their familie. She either took a lot of water with her or had another clean water source that was near here, but the Virgin River is not that source. WebSpeaking of Holly Courtier, someone on the private Facebook group posted that they had contacted one of the local reporters in Utah who was going to check back with the Sheriff on further details but nothing yet. When she was found, Courtier also had a large lump on the back of her head, her sister says, after hitting against a sharp part of the three she had tied her hammock to. The lowest point in the park is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coalpits Wash and the highest peak is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain. A park spokeswoman said authorities found Courtier "in a thickly vegetated area along the Virgin River. It's an update on the official investigation into what really happened - https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2021/03/11/holly-courtier-rescue-zion-national-park-investigation-results/4648525001/. Some members of search and rescue were certainly puzzled. I think she went in there mentally wanting to be there, and then I think she was stuck in there physically, Strong said. If you are working a missing person case its important not to over look cell phone forensics and deleted data recovery. By the time rescuers found her, Courtier had lost 18 pounds and had bruises all over her body, her family said. Washington County Sgt. Holly Suzanne Courtier National Park Service.
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