Mother of Three Discovered Deceased in Remote Washington Wilderness
The skeletal remains of Hailey Athay, a 33-year-old mother of three who vanished after a mushroom foraging trip in late 2024, have been discovered in a remote area of Washington state. The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office confirmed the grim finding this week, ending a prolonged and agonizing search for the missing Longview woman.
Discovery and Identification Process
Horrified hikers stumbled upon the remains on April 12 in a secluded region near Kelso, Washington. The discovery included what authorities described as 'nearly complete skeletal remains' along with clothing and personal belongings. This location had previously been designated as an area of interest during the investigation, though initial searches had yielded no evidence.
After hikers alerted law enforcement and provided photographs of the bones to a forensic anthropologist, who confirmed they were human, officials conducted a dental records comparison. The skull's teeth were matched to Athay's dental records, providing definitive identification of the remains.
Final Communications and Disappearance
Hailey Athay was last heard from just before Thanksgiving in 2024 when she informed a friend about her plans to go mushroom picking in the wilderness with an unidentified man. Her family reported her missing the following January when she failed to make contact. Athay's mother, Nicole Brooks, last spoke to her daughter by phone in November 2024, during which Athay mentioned she was 'doing well' and seeing a man her mother didn't know.
Brooks revealed to local media that her daughter had struggled with addiction and frequently moved between locations, sometimes going several days or weeks between communications. 'Even though she struggled, she would stay in contact,' Brooks explained. 'She would let me know that she's OK, she would give me a call. She would ask about her daughters.'
Family's Response and Suspicion of Foul Play
Nicole Brooks expressed that while the discovery wasn't unexpected given the circumstances, it was certainly not the outcome the family had hoped for. 'It’s not that it was unexpected that this would be the outcome, but it certainly isn’t what we wanted in our hearts,' she told reporters. 'You don’t know, and you hold out hope—and the longer it goes, the harder it is.'
The grieving mother strongly believes her daughter's death was not accidental. 'Somebody took her through the woods. They left her in November in freezing temperatures, unprepared,' Brooks asserted. 'You know, no parent should have to bury their child. And still, I want to ask him why. Why would you do that to somebody? Who does that to a human being?'
Legacy and Ongoing Investigation
In a family tribute, Hailey Athay was remembered as a 'vibrant, 33-year-old woman who leaves behind a legacy of love as a mother of three, a devoted daughter, a sister and a granddaughter.' Those closest to her described her as a 'tough girly girl' with a fierce exterior but a heart defined by kindness and thoughtfulness.
The family had previously established a GoFundMe campaign to support search efforts, which will now be redirected toward funeral expenses. Following confirmation of her death, family and friends held a candlelight vigil to honor Athay's memory. 'I guess the best way I could put it today is that she's not lost in the woods anymore,' Brooks remarked at the ceremony. 'Now that she's home, we're going to shift our focus to getting justice.'
Athay's three daughters are currently being cared for by family members. The remains have been transferred to the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office to determine the cause and manner of death. No criminal charges have been announced at this time, and the investigation continues.
