Missing Hailey Woman Susan Wilhelm Found Dead After Multi-Day Search

Missing Hailey Woman Susan Wilhelm Found Dead After Multi-Day Search

by

Searchers found 78-year-old Susan Wilhelm dead Wednesday morning near Hailey after a multi-day search for the woman, who had dementia, ended in a recovery near Water Gulch Road, East Idaho News reported.

Blaine County Search and Rescue located Wilhelm at approximately 11:15 a.m. among a group of willow trees. Her body was found about a half mile from the end of Water Gulch Road, east of Alturas Elementary School, according to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.

The discovery followed a frantic effort to locate the elderly woman, who had been reported missing from Hailey’s Woodside neighborhood at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Because of her dementia, police had designated her as endangered and expressed immediate concern for her safety.

The search nearly ended before the discovery was made. Blaine County Search and Rescue had announced Wednesday morning that they were suspending field operations. However, new camera footage showed Wilhelm walking near Alturas Elementary School, which prompted the Hailey Police Department and Blaine County Sheriff’s Office to reactivate the search at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Hailey woman found dead after days-long search — KTVB

Following the reactivation, the search focused on Water Gulch Road and was limited to officers and trained search and rescue members. A K-9 team eventually located Wilhelm’s scent, which led searchers directly to her location, the sheriff’s office said.

The multi-agency operation involved a massive mobilization of local resources and residents. Crews canvassed neighborhoods, conducted door-to-door contacts, and deployed drones to monitor canyons and open fields. To ensure the widest possible reach, flyers were distributed in both English and Spanish.

Search efforts also extended to Bellevue, where witnesses had reported seeing Wilhelm near the river.

The scale of the search shows how much the local community typically helps during regional emergencies. Over the three-day period, the effort drew a large number of participants from both professional and civilian sectors.

“Over the past 3 days, we have had approximately 130 citizen volunteers and 50 law enforcement officers and BCSAR team members involved in this multi-agency search. We could not have asked for a better response from our community in stepping up to help one of our own,” said Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis.

Ballis and Hailey Police Chief Steve England expressed gratitude to those who participated in the search. The sheriff’s office indicated that a video containing additional information regarding the search and recovery would be released.

“We ask that you keep the family in your thoughts during this difficult time,” Ballis said.

Worth a look

Read next