REDINGTON TOWNSHIP, Maine — The remains of who investigators believe is Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Geraldine Largay have been found here.
Largay went missing more than two years ago in a remote section of the trail in western Maine.
While the discovery brings some closure, questions remain about Largay's death.
On Wednesday morning, a contractor conducting a forestry survey on U.S. Navy-owned property in western Maine discovered human remains. He reported the finding, and the following morning, state and naval investigators hiked in to the scene.
Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service says investigators have not yet made a positive identification.
"However, due to the location of the remains and the evidence gathered at the scene, the Maine Warden Service feels confident that Geraldine has now been located," he says.
Largay went missing on July 22, 2013. The 66-year-old woman from Tennessee had been hiking the Appalachian Trail since April.
MacDonald says Largay was last seen leaving Poplar Lean-To in Redington Township, heading north to meet her husband the next day.
"Who was waiting there to meet her at the Route 27 crossing," he says. "Geraldine never arrived at that location."
Over the course of two years, search teams scoured about 23 miles of terrain, but found no evidence of Largay. A $25,000 reward was offered for information on her disappearance.
Ultimately, MacDonald says, Largay's remains were found about 3,000 feet from the trail.
"The remains will be examined to determine cause of death, although investigators do not believe foul play is involved at this time," he says.
Why Largay left the remote, rugged trail is unclear, says state search and rescue coordinator Lt. Kevin Adam. She was found about 100 yards inside the boundary of Navy property in a wooded area.
"There's a lot of her belongings that we found that we still have to go through to see if there are any other clues there as to what we can glean from that," he says.
Warden service officials say Largay's family is requesting privacy at this time, and expressed gratitude to searchers and investigators.
Adam says the discovery ends two years of uncertainty.
"Well it's a great sense of relief that we have found Gerry and we can return her to her family," he says. "That's the biggest thing."
But along with the relief, says Adam, is sadness.
