FBI was involved very early on, per information from Pattie’s daughter, Murphy. But yes, the FBI’s resources are still limited in a case like this. Japanese police are still in charge of the investigation and I recall early on there was frustration that the family had knowledge or understanding that the police could access or request telecomm information, but that Japanese authorities were denying this was possible with an American eSIM and/or not willing to share it. There are international politics at play, the US has tenuous relationships with much of Asia, including Japan. Intelligence isn’t shared. She worked for a company that may have poor relations with some Asian countries.
CT senator Richard Blumenthal also advocated for the family.
“The couple’s daughter Murphy arrived in Japan and received an offer of help from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who asked the State Department to press Japanese authorities to resume the search.”
IMO, both of these things are quite unusual for overseas missing persons cases. It doesn’t answer questions but many overlook that Pattie’s career was in a highly sensitive industry. She worked in international compliance for the Asia Pacific region for an aerospace and weapons manufacturer, United Technologies, which merged with Raytheon in 2020. Her recent retirement is irrelevant, she still held sensitive information and likely had clearances that flag with her passport. She also holds Taiwanese citizenship which is an area with conflict at the moment. Neither of these things are mentioned much in news articles and I believe intentionally.
She wasn’t a meek retiree, she was very clearly a very intelligent, careful and competent woman. Not that it should matter, but almost certainly the breadwinner in her family. Meaning, capable, independent, confident on her own. An experienced long distance hiker. Her trail was well marked and well maintained as it was a pilgrimage trail, it’s something we’ve known from the start. Long distance trails in the US do not look like this so a western perspective may be skewed. Hers was not a rugged off grid trail. A most logical explanation is that she encountered something harmful—a person, an animal, or a sudden medical episode like a heart attack.
It is unusual IMO for the FBI, a major senator, and the state department, to show interest in an overseas missing persons case so quickly upon disappearance.
Her family many times have mentioned they don’t discount a theory she could have been kidnapped and I think it’s likely they understand the complexities and motivations for why that could have occurred.
