The parks public information officer, Amanda Roland, said at the time of the disappearance, that beauty and danger go hand in hand in Zion, There is a vastness.Zion has massive sandstone Cliffs, there are a lot of canyons and a lot of wilderness. Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2021/03/11/holly-courtier-rescue-zion-national-park-investigation-results/4648525001/. Best gifts for the graduate with travel plans, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Family donates organs of Utah teen who died last, May kicks off with record high temperatures, snowpack, Police search for 2 runaway teens from Utah center, National Adopt A Shelter Pet DayHeres how to support, Tony Finau wins 6th career PGA Tour event, These were the deadliest national parks of 2022. Cashin spoke to an observation that there are inconsistencies, theysaid. For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. The Virgin River had parasitic infection so would have made her very ill if she drank the water. I think she bit off more than she could chew. A search for a California woman who was missing for two weeks last fall at Zion National Park in Utah before being found alive cost about $60,000, park officials said Thursday. 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 case file said a taped interview was included, but this was not released to the public. Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, was found by a visitor who alerted park officials on Sunday. Were fact-finders.. She is mum to Kailey Chambers, 19, who travelled to the area to help find her mum. Washington County Sgt. US Park Rangers received a credible tip from a park visitor that they had seen If she did have a good water source, what was it?". 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. They talked to visitors, and no one had seen anything. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! In October, southern Utah was catapulted into the national spotlight after a California woman was found after two weeks missing in Zion National Park. There are many possible reasons for their disappearance. "This wouldnt have been possible without the network of people who came together.. By the time rescuers found her, Courtier had lost 18 pounds and had bruises all over her body, her family said. The description of the areas searched and NOTHING found suggest strongly that she moved her "makeshift camp" around to different areas whenever she was seen so as to stay hidden. She had a really hard time moving because of a lack of energy, lack of water, food, Strong said. Strong said the family took Courtier to the emergency room and a doctor allegedly diagnosed her with a concussion, although the family said Holly had decided to forgo an MRI or CAT scan. I decided to investigate the area, the person wrote. In response to Cashins statements, the Courtier familyclarified Holly did not drink the river waterdue to the toxicity levels. The official attempted to obtain security camera footage, "for a better clothing description but the video was not available do to technical difficulties. A lot of the info was redacted, obviously to avoid getting sued by Holly for revealing private info. 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. Latest Videos. There appear to be a few more people confirming that Holly & her family are now promoting certain hiking & clothing items online. 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. WCSO was counseled as an "outside set of professional eyes" by the NPS during the search, the investigation said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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 redactions appear to go far beyond protecting privacy. The ranger's report said that when found, Holly was fully well enough and strong enough to walk 1,000 yards (almost 2/3 of a mile) to return to the Rangers' Station. All Rights Reserved. In other cases, your loved one may have been the victim of kidnapping, abduction, or, in the worst case, murder. 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. 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. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Holly Courtier planned to go on spiritual journey, fast inside Zion National Park, family says. Its not just flat ground. It was that hammock that caught the attention of visitors traveling through the park, who alerted authorities. Despite being close to a river, her family said Courtier couldn't drink the water, because of toxicity concerns. Courtier, 38, was reported missing in Zion National Park on Oct. 6. Donate to the newsroom now. According to multiple reports and family statements, Courtier did not tell her family that she was traveling to Zion. Her intended travel plan from the Grotto parking area was unknown. WebFOUND: Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, has been found safe in Zion National Park. It's an update on the official investigation into what really happened - Cashin said, "I still wish your bosses would just put all the facts out and be done with it. The remainder of the narrative is largely redacted and reveals only that the searcher escorted Courtier to the road. What follows is over 30 pages of nearly completely redacted text messages, with no indicationwho the sender or receiver is. Holly Courtier, 38, was found on Sunday in Zion National Park after 12 days. There are various organizations and helplines that provide advice and support to missing people as well as their familie. 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. 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. Her sister said, she was so dehydrated "she couldn't open her mouth. Without any water, she would have died within two to three days, he says. The daughter also said that she and her mother, who both live in southern California, had visited Zion National Park together the previous month. Everywhere on the internet, an abundance of helpful resources provide valuable insight about blogging. After Courier was found on Oct. 18, the sheriff's office said it received "numerous tips" claiming Courtier made up the story as a way to make money through a GoFundMe account. Her levels of her kidney function were very bad. Some of these reasons are considered voluntary, like a mental illness that causes them to forget their home or be afraid of those they know, a desire for better employment that causes them to skip town, or the decision to join in a cult and cut all ties with family and friends. It was that hammock that caught the attention of visitors traveling through the park, who alerted authorities. Since her rescue, the circumstances of her disappearance have come under heavy scrutiny as park and law enforcement officials have raised questions about how she was able to survive on her own for nearly two weeks. More on Zion vandalism: 'Worst I've ever seen': First patrol since summer, rangers find human waste in Zion. There was ZERO mention of her being weak, needing assistance, falling down, passing out, or displaying any kind of injury/concussion/dehydration/disability. MLB with no BALLS, Lady in The woods with no Plan, and Voting irritation.. If we had found somebody in that condition with that kind of severe head injury, we would have at minimum called for a transport agency to check her out, Cashin said. 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. Her family said she had no phone with her, and did not tell anyone of her hiking plans. Temperatures in the park in October are an average high of 19C, 66 F and low of 4C, 39 F. 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. She was starting to show signs of her kidneys shutting down.". Dogs were used but came up empty. 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. On the day of the rescue, two rangers were searching the Grotto Trailhead at 11:30 a.m. when they found a large blue backpack in some vegetation, which led them to Courtier in the hammock. In all, the search and rescue cost $60,192. The search efforts cost the Park $60,000+ (not including what was spent privately). Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Courtier's The 38-year-oldWoodland Hills motherstill has not broken her silence since she was found by Zion Search and Rescue team members on Oct. 18approximately half a mile from where she was last seen in the Grotto parking area. 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. Many questions remain about this case. Update: Read more about how Holly Suzanne Courtier survived here. She was well equipped e.g. 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. The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. In the correspondence, Zion's Deputy Chief Ranger Andrew Fitzgerald said he "loved" Cashin's statements. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? This suggests strongly that she did indeed return to her car during the time she claimed to "LOST". 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. People go missing in national parks every year. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Documents released Thursday regarding the search for a missing hiker in Zion National Park last fall are so heavily redacted they reveal almost nothing new other than the National Park Service spent more than $60,000 looking for her. Courtiers family may have had to settle for an educated guess by law enforcement that she was attacked by a wild animal. WebSearch and Rescue crews found Holly Suzanne Courtier on October 18 within Zion National Park. The person did not try to talk to the person in the hammock. Missing hiker who got lost in Zion Park checks into mental - Daughter, Kailey Chambers said her mother injured her head on a tree and became disorientated. Darrell Cashin commented on the circumstances of Courtiers recovery that were inconsistent with his 25 years of training and experience. The fact that that didnt happen tells me that they did not find any significant injury to her that wouldve prompted them to do that.. This is especially important if the phone is an iPhone due to the location tracking feature available on that device. "Rangers told us her hammock was seen by a little boy and his mom," Strong said. Cashin said he doubted this, adding that park officials said she was able to leave the park largely unassisted. 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. Video broadcast Thursday March 11, 2021 on Today in LA. I think she went in there mentally wanting to be there, and then I think she was stuck in there physically, Strong said. Holly Courtier was found alive on Sunday, October 18, 2020. Darrell Cashin, from Washington County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, who helped the search-and-rescue effort, said he had questions about Courtier's story and pointed out discrepancies. 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. As I moved through the brush, I noticed a blue object that I later identified as a backpack. If shes by the Virgin River, shes down in the valley, not in the backcountry up in the plateaus and the peaks, Cashin said. if Courtier had hit her head and was as dehydrated as she told her family she was, search-and-rescue teams would have immediately called an ambulance when they found her. Her levels of her kidney function were very bad. "We would like to thank the rangers and search teams who relentlessly looked for her day and night and never gave up hope.". Courtier's daughter Kailey,in an interview with CNN,said she traveled to Zion to try to find her mother. Follow her on Twitter at @ksophiewillor email her at kswill@thespectrum.com. Holly was severely dehydrated and had lost 15 pounds when she was found according to her older sister, Jaime Strong, "The doctor was shocked she was so dehydrated. "I've never even seen him or met him. 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. Become a member of StrangeOutdoors.com for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read about other strange disappearances from Utah, The faked disappearance of Alma Tolman on Antelope Island, The strange disappearance and death of Jerika Binks on the Timpanogos Cave National Monument trail, The shocking death of John Jones in the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah (Member only), The missing woman found alive after 5 months missing in Utahs Spanish Fork Canyon, https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/search-underway-for-woman-missing-in-zion-national-park?fbclid=IwAR3xNBCpMaqiS1SUm4IV6QZOjjUHOm48NNeuQjsTdac1qVDhEZ8AY3t0LJw, https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2020/10/17/prc-k-9-units-dispatch-to-aid-in-continuing-search-for-woman-missing-in-zion/#.X4wBLZNKg_U, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_National_Park, https://www.insideedition.com/where-is-holly-suzanne-courtier-california-mother-disappears-on-solo-hike-in-utahs-zion-national, https://www.insider.com/zion-hiker-holly-courtier-official-questions-story-discrepancies-2020-10, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/woman-missing-national-park-12-22879051, https://abcnews.go.com/US/mother-missing-12-days-zion-national-park-found/story?id=73686514, https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/21/us/rescued-hiker-holly-courtier-sister-interview/index.html, Tagged: Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park missing, Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park disappearance, Holly courtier faked disappearance, holly courtier investigation, Was the Holly Courtier disappearance staged, StrangeOutdoors.com Terms of use/Cookie notice/Privacy Policy, Sign Up for a one-off fee to read many exclusive member-only articles, The strange disappearance and death of Bruce Diggle in Cyprus, The shocking disappearance of David Barclay Miller, The controversial disappearance and discovery of Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The shocking death of John Jones in the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah, Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park missing, Holly Suzanne Courtier in Zion National Park disappearance, Was the Holly Courtier disappearance staged, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. Courtier had a Sharpie with her, her sister says, and would mark how many days had passed on a tree nearby. In a statement, Courtier's family said they were "overjoyed" that she had been found. 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. Foods were slowly being introduced back into Courtier's diet after she was found. Holly Courtier disappearance - update : thepapinis - Reddit The Park Service released their report - heavily redacted. The Salt Lake Tribune, along with other news outlets, requested the material under the Freedom of Information Act nearly five months ago. The Washington County Sheriffs Office later opened an investigation into the search, but its outcome remains unknown. 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. Cashin said his crews provided some K-9 assets and several of their highly trained investigators reviewed the parks entire search and rescue efforts, including maps, credible tips, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses. I came to a small social path that looked unused but led to an area of dense vegetation. 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. Additionally, we have determined that the disclosure of this information would shed little or no light on the performance of the agencys statutory duties.. 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. National Park Service Holly Suzanne Courtier was found alive on October 18, 2020. Holly Suzanne Courtier, the California mother who was missing in Zion National Park for nearly two weeks, has been found alive. Courtier, 38, arrived at the Utah park on October 6 for a solo hike and was reported missing two days later. The park service stated that the deletions were all justified by the need to protect the privacy of all involved. So reasonably cool at night, warm during the peak of the afternoon. Darrel Cashin noted in an interview with local media that the water in the Virgin River is toxic and unsafe to drink, Courtiers sister said that the earlier statement was not meant to imply that Courtier drank water from the Virgin River. An official placed an orange "overdue" sticker on the car, but a day later it was missing. This comes after Holly Suzanne Courtier, 38, was reported missing for two weeks in October 2020. There was a lot of miscommunication, speculation, and sometimes it came to not having all the facts.. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park has a unique geography and a variety of life zones that allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Officials have yet to disclose exactly where Courtier was found, but the general area is close to the main park road and heavily used hiking trails. Holly Courtiers disappearance and recovery 12 days later, on Oct. 18, near the Virgin River, drew national media attention and lots of questions about her case. 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. WebPastors Dave & Shelly Drage are responding to a call on their lives to GO and ENCOURAGE the churches of Australia. Breaking crime and justice news on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. The area where Holly was found appears to be close to the Virgin River and the Grotto Picnic/Parking area, close to a road (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive). Reply InternetInvestigat0r 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. Her family members also started a GoFundMe to aid Courtier's medical bills as she does not have health insurance. She was missing for nearly two weeks, until rescuers found her safely on Sunday. It appears that investigators were able to trace Courtier to Zion National Park through her use of a credit card to purchase a private shuttle ticket. 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? 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.. Her potassium levels were extremely low. But early on in her hike this month, she hit her head and became disoriented, her daughter previously told CNN. subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. 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. Visitors to the park were not able to drive in and you have to take a shuttle bus in and out, so the bus was the only way she could leave, without hiking out. (File photo courtesy of HelpFindHolly.com) Holly S. Courtier, an experienced hiker missing in Zion since Oct. 6, was found Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, after someone called in a tip on where she might be. - https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/12/17/zion-national-park/. Both Cashin and Fitzgerald stated they believed she might be dead or jumped, and discussed searching with cadaver dogs. Soldier killed in helicopter crash identified as, Stabbing, shooting occur in Downtown SLC overnight, Possible record heat Sunday to further flood concerns, Can rainbows form in a circle? ", Cashin Correspondence About Holly Courtier by Spectrum Media on Scribd. The teen son of a wealthy businessman is arrested weeks after a fatal cash in West Los Angeles. Someone noted that the boots she is pictured wearing and which she supposedly had when she disappeared - are ~$400 boots -- pretty poricey for someone who claims she doesn't have any money, is jobless and desperate for that $$ from GoFundMe- https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14984641/2020/10/Holly-Courtier.jpg?w=640&h=360&crop=1, https://www.danner.com/mountain-light-cascade-clovis.html?___store=default_danner&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpI2myYPY7QIVEr7ACh1UgAa_EAQYAiABEgLr2vD_BwE, Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/12/17/zion-national-park/, https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14984641/2020/10/Holly-Courtier.jpg?w=640&h=360&crop=1. Holly Courtier, the mom who supposedly went missing for 12 days in Utahs Zion Park, is now the subject of a criminal probe, Crime Online reports. He wasn't there.". 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. 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.. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. But she didnt show for the pick-up. Before her disappearance, Courtier - described as an experienced Courtier has yet to speak publicly about what happened during her disappearance and how she survived for 12 days in the rugged wilderness without supplies. How her story led to an online frenzy. as the widely circulating rumors and tips claimed. After Washington County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Sgt. She was in over her head and had no way to get out.. "Ranger [redacted] advised [redacted] was able to walk to the roadway approximately 1,000 feet. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. CNN 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 Apparently suffering from dehydration, weight loss and bruises, she was reunited with her family and taken to a hospital, according to published reports. "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. The texts detail the correspondence between the two parties with daily updates on Courtier. Rescuers searched for her with drones and K-9 units after she dissappeared. river contaminated by a toxic algae bloom. The sheriff who was investigating Holly's actions and who claimed there were allegations she faked it to get money from GoFundMe, has never given any followup report. Donate to Report for America here. The searcher recognized the person as the missing hiker, and the person in the hammock acknowledged her identity. A spokesperson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office told FOX 13 that the department closed the investigation into Holly Courtier last year, and no claims of fraud were substantiated. A subreddit dedicated to discussion of the mysterious case of Sherri Papini. Pages and pages of cleared campsites and trails, and found some footprints,to no avail. Cashin says its a high possibility Courtier would have died if she was drinking the river water for 12 days. WebHolly's previous trip to Zion National Park - just two weeks before her disappearance - was a planning trip to map out her plans and set up for her disappearance (maybe she even stashed food & water) also a search & rescue expert from Zion also says he is certain she faked this and gives reasons why at 12:22.