The search for a hiker has extended to its fifth day in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in San Mateo County.
Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, 79, a Redwood City resident, has been missing since Thursday after being separated from her family while hiking. She has dementia and was last seen wearing a red jacket and black pants, sheriff’s officials said.
Over 150 search and rescue personnel and four drone teams from Alameda, Marin and Santa Clara have assisted. Over the last 72 hours, around 3,000 miles have been tracked by searches on the ground, according to the sheriff’s office statement.
The Sheriff’s Office has asked residents who live nearby to check their cameras day and night, starting on Thursday at 10 a.m., and report any information through an online form.
“We have received about a dozen responses to the form,” said spokeswoman Heather Enders.
Many specially trained search and rescue volunteers from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin and Sonoma Counties have helped San Mateo County with the search. Airplanes, drones, horses, K-9s, off-road bicycles and motorcycles have been utilized.
Today, 60 volunteers, six K-9 teams and drone teams were searching for McKinley. The search will end around 8 p.m.
“Our shared focus continues to be on finding Elaine. We remain hopeful and are each personally vested in these efforts,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus in the statement. I want to personally thank our dedicated volunteers and personnel. They have not wavered in their commitment, and we are indebted to them.”
The parking lot off of Portola Road will remain closed to the public, while entrances off of Skyline Boulevard will remain open.