Back on December 10th of last year, a 38-year-old woman went into a Sooke hiking area and never returned.
After nine days of exhaustive search efforts by police and volunteers, the search was suspended, but now, Sooke RCMP say they will continue they will head back into the wooded area she went missing in to try and recover her.
New information recently came to light via her family who discovered McDevitt’s GPS watch was recording her movements before losing power.
Since this discovery, Sooke RCMP and Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue will re-deploy into the wilderness in a more concentrated and refined search of an area that was previously searched with the hopes of finding McDevitt, or a new lead.
Related:
- Sooke RCMP surveillance footage of missing 38-year-old Melissa McDevitt (VIDEO)
- Search for Melissa McDevitt suspended after nine days of efforts: Sooke RCMP
“There has been an outpouring of support for Melissa and her family since she went missing,” said Acting Sooke RCMP Detachment Commander Sergeant Kevin Shaw. “The RCMP and Melissa’s family sincerely appreciate the public’s assistance and continued efforts to find Melissa to this point.”
“Given the specialized and focussed nature of the renewed search efforts however, we are asking people to please avoid the area this weekend to accommodate Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue efforts.”
The areas police would like hikers to avoid are Charters River/Sooke Potholes
Search and rescue teams will re-engage the area of interest beginning this weekend on Saturday, July 8th.
Police ask that anyone with information on Melissa McDevitt’s disappearance, call Sooke RCMP at (250) 642-5241.
