The search for a Huron County woman missing in California has been transitioned by authorities to a limited but continuous search and investigation, after work into the case determined foul play was unlikely.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement Wednesday after a weeklong search involving 18 agencies and a total of 478 searchers.
Ann Marie Herford, a 66-year-old travel nurse from Elkton, Michigan, was reported missing November 15 after not showing up for work at Adventist Health in Sonora, CA. She was last seen on November 12, parking her car at a trailhead of the Arnold Rim Trail System. Reported missing on Tuesday, November 14, her vehicle was discovered a day later at the trailhead.
While 132 teams put in a collective 3,842 hours into searching a 12 square-mile area, investigators examined Herford’s vehicle and computer, attempting to determine if foul play was a factor. Evidence obtained thus far has led investigators to believe no crime has taken place.
Herford, who was staying alone at a California hotel, expressed interest in hiking during a breakfast with a friend on November 11. Family members note she enjoyed hiking but lacked wilderness survival skills, never planning more than a couple of miles at a time.
Residents surrounding the Arnold Rim Trail area are still being asked to check their property and outbuildings for signs of Herford or of her having taken shelter from the elements. Updates will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.
