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PORTLAND — Officials confirmed that human remains found at the bottom of a cliff in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon are those of Annie Schmidt, who has been missing since mid-October.
In a statement on Friday, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said "human remains (have) been discovered off of a trail near the Tooth Rock Trailhead in the Columbia River Gorge." The Schmidt family identified the clothing and personal items found at the site as belonging to Annie, her father Jon Schmidt said in a Facebok post on Friday. Police declined to release further details without "conclusive evidence," Schmidt said.
On Saturday, Jon Schmidt said on Facebook that the medical examiner confirmed that the remains were positively identified as those of his daughter.
Social media posts from Annie Schmidt, 21, indicated she was going hiking Oct. 16. She was reported missing on Oct. 19. Search efforts in Oregon were called off Oct. 26.
Jon Schmidt said the cause of death was determined to be accidental. He also thanked the public for their support throughout the search.
“You have lived this trial with us and we pray that this may bring a greater level of resolution and peace for all of us,” Jon Schmidt said.
Contributing: Ben Lockhart
