Virginia State Police said troopers have preliminarily identified remains found in the Shenandoah National Park as that of firefighter Nicole Mittendorff, who vanished a week ago.
Fire Captain Dave Hall had previously said Mittendorff called in sick to work on April 13 before disappearing, the same day her family last heard from her. Mittendorff last contacted her family by text message on April 13.
Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said on April 21 the body is likely Mittendorff’s. Geller said medical examiners will confirm the identity. The spokeswoman also said evidence collected during the investigation included a note that was found in Mittendorff’s car, which was found in the Shenandoah National Park by a U.S. park ranger in the parking area of the Whiteoak Canyon Trail on April 17.
“The physical and digital evidence collected during the course of this investigation–to include a note recovered from her car–leads investigators to believe there was no foul play involved in her death,” said the Virginia State Police in a statement on Facebook.
