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Body found near scene of search for missing firefighter, officials say Body found near scene of search for missing firefighter, officials say
(about 1 hour later)
Search teams discovered a woman’s body in Shenandoah National Park Thursday, following six days of intensive searching for a missing Fairfax County firefighter whose car was found in the park last Saturday, according to the Virginia State Police. Search teams working in Shenandoah National Park on Thursday discovered a body believed to be that of a Fairfax County firefighter whose car was found in the park on Saturday.
Officials did not immediately say whether the body was that of Nicole K. Mittendorff, 31, of Woodbridge, but said the search for her had been suspended. They said in a press release that the remains were discovered in a remote location a little over a mile from the Whiteoak Canyon Trail parking area where Mittendorff's Mini Cooper was left. Virginia State Police did not immediately confirm the body was that of Nicole K. Mittendorff, 31, of Woodbridge, but said the search for her had been suspended, and her family said in a statement they believed the remains were Mittendorff’s. The discovery follows six days of intensive searching for the woman in a heavily forested area.
Virginia State Police and National Park Service personnel discovered the body around 2 p.m. about 330 yards from the trail in treacherous rocky terrain, officials said. Investigators were still processing the scene on Thursday evening. Virginia State Police said in a news release that the remains were discovered in a remote location a little over a mile from the Whiteoak Canyon Trail parking area where Mittendorff’s Mini Cooper was left. Virginia State Police and National Park Service personnel discovered the body around 2 p.m. about 330 yards from the trail in treacherous rocky terrain, officials said. Investigators were still processing the scene on Thursday evening.
Mittendorff’s family posted on Facebook that they were devastated by the news. Mittendorff’s family wrote in a statement that they were devastated.
“Our hearts are broken,” the message read. “We thank you for your support and ask that you keep our family in your prayers in the challenging days ahead.” “Our hearts are broken,” the statement read. “We believe that Nicole has been found and is finally coming home, however not in the way we anticipated. This is not the positive outcome that we continued to hope and pray for over the past week.”
National Park Service and Virginia State Police will conduct a press conference at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the case. Mittendorff was last in touch with her family a little over a week ago. Virginia State Police said Wednesday that physical and digital evidence they have collected has been critical in focusing the search operations in recent days.
Mittendorff was last in touch with her family a little over a week ago. Virginia state police said Wednesday that physical and digital evidence that they have collected has been critical in focusing the search operations. Mittendorff’s family had previously said files on her cellphone that were given to law enforcement officials Wednesday might provide key evidence to locate her. State police have declined to comment on what that evidence is, and the family would not discuss it. State police have previously said there was no indication of foul play in the case, but Mittendorff’s disappearance has drawn widespread interest and media coverage.
Mittendorff’s family had previously said files on Mittendorff's cellphone that were given to law enforcement officials Wednesday might provide key evidence to locate her. State police have declined to comment on what that evidence is, and the family would not discuss it. State police have previously said there was no indication of foul play in the case, but Mittendorff's disappearance has drawn widespread interest and press coverage. The discovery of the body comes a day after family members and colleagues held a vigil in Burke at Fire Station 32, where Mittendorff worked as a firefighter and paramedic. They distributed ribbons and lit a candle they said would burn until Mittendorff was returned home.
The discovery of the body comes a day after family members and colleagues held a vigil for Mittendorff in Burke, Va., at Fire Station 32, where Mittendorff worked as a firefighter and paramedic. They distributed ribbons and lit a candle they said would burn until Mittendorff was returned home. Relatives said they last had contact with her via a text message shortly before 11 a.m. on April 13. Fairfax County fire department officials said she called in sick that day. Mittendorff was officially reported missing when she failed to show for work last Friday. A park ranger found her car on Saturday night, and the searches for her began in the park. They involved aircraft, dogs and trained search teams.
Relatives of Mittendorff said they last had contact with her via a text message shortly before 11 a.m. on April 13. Fairfax County fire department officials said she called in sick that day. Mittendorff was officially reported missing when she failed to show for work last Friday. A park ranger found her car in a pullout in Shenandoah National Park on Saturday night and the searches for her began in the park. They involved aircraft, dogs and trained search teams. Mittendorff’s family surmised she may have traveled to the Shenandoah to train because she is an avid runner and triathlete.
Mittendorff's family surmised she may have traveled to the Shenandoah to train because she is an avid runner and triathlete. Mittendorff’s disappearance drew an outpouring of support from her colleagues, who staged news conferences seeking tips to find her as well as Wednesday’s vigil. Mittendorff’s husband is a Virginia State Police trooper, and her brother-in-law is a firefighter in Fairfax County. Jennifer Clardy Chalmers, Mittendorff’s sister, wrote in an email that the family did not want to comment on the manner of Mittendorff’s death, but the family’s statement said the support they received had not gone unnoticed.
Mittendorff's disappearance drew an outpouring of support from her colleagues, who staged press conferences seeking tips to find her and Wednesday's vigil. Mittendorff's husband is a Virginia State Police trooper and her brother-in-law is a firefighter in Fairfax County. Jennifer Clardy Chalmers, Mittendorff’s sister, wrote in an email message that the support had not gone unnoticed. “It has been a challenging time for everyone and we learned that there is an amazing community spanning the entire globe, full of love and support,” the statement read. “It was this community that helped sustain us.”
“We are very touched by the outpouring of support from everyone at the vigil,” Chalmers wrote in an email earlier on Thursday. “It was an emotional evening and our family is unable to find words to adequately say thank you to everyone involved. Police, fire, extended family, friends and even strangers have all offered support.”