Hiker's Discovery May Solve 2013 Missing-Person Case

A hiker's recent discovery of human remains in a Washington national forest may help authorities close a missing-person case from 2013.

Investigators believe the remains could belong to one of two hikers who went missing in the area over a decade ago. The medical examiner will determine key details about the decedent.

On Aug. 10, a hiker climbing the Big Lava Bed in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest found human remains and alerted authorities, according to a press release from the Skamania County Sheriff's Office. The hiker located a human skull and recorded the GPS coordinates, leading investigators to the site.

Preliminary evidence suggests the remains belong to a hiker who went missing in the Big Lava Bed in 2013. Two cases from that year remain open.

The remains were transported to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. USA TODAY reached out to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office for more information.

Missing Hikers in Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 2013

Reports indicate at least two hikers went missing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 2013, with their cases remaining unsolved.

In October 2013, Kristopher Zitzewitz, 31, an Oregon resident, went missing after being separated from his hiking partner in the Big Lava Beds near Mount Rainier, according to Reuters. The search was suspended on Oct. 5, 2013.

Earlier in June 2013, Maureen Kelly, 19, a Vancouver resident, went missing after leaving the Canyon Creek Campground. Kelly was last seen naked, wearing a fanny pack containing a compass and a knife, according to The Columbian. The search for Kelly was suspended after one day.

Both Kelly and Zitzewitz remain missing.

Contributing: Reuters

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.