Two months after disappearing on a planned hiking trip, the body of missing Walmart employee Vendula “Wendy” Rose was discovered in a secluded Alabama forest, ending an exhaustive search that spanned several states.
On November 30, a hunter found Rose’s body in a hammock tied between trees, approximately five miles from where her silver Honda had been abandoned. Rose, an avid hiker originally from Ohio, was last seen alive on September 24 in a tent in Oxford, Alabama, about 60 miles from Birmingham.
According to police reports cited by The US sun, Rose left Ohio on September 20, traveled to Alabama and then drove briefly to South Carolina before returning to Alabama. Days later, she was seen in Oxford, although authorities have not revealed what she bought or the exact location.
Rose had previously mentioned plans for a hiking trip and reportedly took unusual steps beforehand. He left money in a bank, left his work keys in the hands of his employer and did not return to work, triggering alarm among his colleagues and family.
His disappearance sparked a search for a missing person. report on October 4, two days after he returned home. An extensive search effort was launched, involving aviation units, K9 teams and horse squads. Despite these efforts, Rose remained missing for weeks.
It wasn’t until the hunter stumbled upon her body in a “rough and secluded” area of the forest that authorities were able to locate her. The site was described as being off the beaten path near Cheaha State Park, where Rose had reportedly planned to hike.
Investigators discovered “abnormal” notes in his abandoned vehicle along with a box of ammunition with seven bullets missing, according to The Columbus Dispatch. However, the police are not suspicious foul play in his death, he said WIAT-TV.
His family, who had created a facebook group to assist in the search, confirmed Rose’s identity last week through dental records. The official cause of death has not yet been revealed and authorities are still unsure if there is enough DNA evidence to determine exactly what happened.
Cleburne County Coroner Adam Downs expressed hope that the discovery would bring some comfort to Rose’s family. Your sister-in-law, Sara, wrote on Facebook, “Although this was not the outcome we expected, we realize that having closure was a blessing.”
As the investigation continues, the tragic discovery marks the end of a mysterious disappearance that left Rose’s family and community searching for answers for months.