IL IL - Tina Donovan, 45, Ottawa, reported missing 14 Jan 2020

[PommyMommy]

Police continue search for missing woman at Starved Rock State Park | Northwest Herald

[...]

Tina Donovan, of Ottawa, was reported missing to the Ottawa Police Department by a family member about 4 p.m. Tuesday, and a vehicle owned by Donovan was located in the Starved Rock Lodge parking area as a result of the investigation.

Ottawa police Capt. Dave Gualandri said officers found personal property belonging to Donovan in the park and have begun a second day of searching at Starved Rock State Park.

[...]

Ottawa police are working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police to conduct a ground search, and Gualandri said conservation police have taken the lead of the investigation because of their knowledge of the park.

[...]

Ottawa Police Department

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 17, 2020
Crews plan search for missing Ottawa woman amid weather advisory

• Friday is day two of the search for TD at Starved Rock State Park and authorities plan to search through the weekend.
• Conservation Police Sergeant Phil Wire says more people will be available from local departments to search through the winter weather advisory.
• The National Weather Service has forecast up to 5” of snow by Saturday morning and rain, possibly mixed with snow before the afternoon.
• There is also the potential for blowing and drifting snow, winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

 

[TatianaBarbie]

There was an update on the Ottawa Police Department's FB page (thanks for the link, Pommy!), but it was to state that Tina was still missing, and that they are still searching. They asked people to stop commenting on the post, as erroneous information was being posted.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 18, 2020
Rescue station, wardens search river for missing Ottawa woman | The Times

According to Illinois Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire, Ottawa Rescue Station personnel and the conservation police were launching boats Saturday morning to conduct a search using sonar equipment in the Illinois River downstream from Starved Rock Lock and Dam.

[...]

A vehicle owned by Donovan was located in the Starved Rock Lodge parking area and some of Donovan’s personal items were found late in the week not far from the river. Reading Fire Department, from South Streator, also is bringing a boat with sonar to the search area.

 

[MntnHiker]

I have been to Starved Rock numerous times. There are many high cliffs over the river and also drop offs on other trails where people have died from falling. I would also imagine trails have been slippery with ice and mud recently.

Sadly I am wondering if this was self harm especially hearing belongings were found not far from the river.

 

[tacosandkayaking]

Found different pics. IMHO this seems like a self harm situation. Missing Pieces Network

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2020
Missing Ottawa woman’s belongings found down stream of Illinois River

... According to Conservation Police Sergeant Phil Wire, the investigation continues on the Illinois River near the lock and dam where Tina Donovan’s belongings were found. Crews are currently using sonar equipment and drag hooks on the possibility the 45-year-old woman turns up. Wire believes if that is the case, the investigation could turn into a widespread river search as far as Peoria. ...

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

I've been to Starved Rock many times, it's one of my favorite places. But the river is not one you go for a swim in. Either she went in herself deliberately knowing it was dangerous/high chance of never coming back, or someone forced her. Very sad, I hope they find her.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2020
Conservation police, river rescue use sonar in search for missing Ottawa woman | The Times

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police searched the river using sonar and drag bars with volunteers from the Ottawa River Rescue Squad.

"The search with sonar was hampered by the ice flowing in and out of the Starved Rock Dam and floating along the shorelines," said Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 22, 2020
Illinois River Continues To Be Focus Of Missing Person's Search
[...]

... Conservation Officer Sgt. Phil Wire says ice on the river prevented searching on Tuesday. Conditions, however, improved late that day, so search crews are likely to be back out Wednesday. Wire says they'll be using different sonar while on the Illinois River. Personnel are searching from the middle of the channel to the shore between the dam and the boat ramp.

[...]

Authorities say search for missing Ottawa woman is a recovery operation
The Ottawa Police Department and Conservation Police say the search for a missing Ottawa woman is now a recovery operation. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Sergeant Phil Wire says crews will work through the snowfall expected in the next few days to search for 45-year-old Tina Donovan, but with challenges. ... Wire says searching the river will be difficult in the event of ice accumulation, but the search will be postponed if it gets unsafe.

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

Police continue searching Illinois River for missing Ottawa woman, belongings found at Starved Rock State Park | The Times

They are still looking for her. It says it could take a month or longer.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 30, 2020
Search in LaSalle Co. For Missing Woman Continues
No new information.

 

[mlhenn]

Search continues for missing Ottawa woman

Jan 26
Officially, it's still a search for 45-year old Tina Donovan of Ottawa and not a recovery effort. Donovan went missing on the 13th. Portions of Starved Rock State Park were searched before focusing on the Illinois River.

 

[kelsie]

Police end river search for missing Ottawa woman | The Times

 

[PommyMommy]

Police end river search for missing Ottawa woman | The Times

I have to give them a whole lot of credit. They searched for a very long time. MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 3, 2020
Ottawa Police Department search records, data base in next phase of investigation for missing 45-year-old woman
The Ottawa Police Department is continuing investigative efforts in the search for a missing Ottawa woman. ... Gualandri says although evidence suggests that Donovan entered the Illinois River near Starved Rock’s Lock and Dam, they’re covering all bases, including re-interviewing witnesses and routinely checking financial records.

 

[mlhenn]

Praying for some form of closure, some type of answers for the friends and loved ones of Tina.

 

[mlhenn]

Tina’s NamUs page was created Sept 01 & modified yesterday, Sept 02.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Circumstances of Disappearance
•Tina Donovan was reported missing from Ottawa, IL by her family after she did not show up for work.
•Tina also left a cryptic note and sent letters about leaving and referenced "eating from the tree of life."
•She was last seen on 01/13/2020 at 1345 hours withdrawing money from her bank account and using crutches to move around and wearing a black coat.
•Tina's phone was pinged and the last on location was in the area of Starved Rock State Park at 1723 hours.
•Tina's vehicle was found parked unoccupied at the Starved Rock Lodge.
•Video footage was obtained and a woman matching Tina's description was seen on video walking from the parking lot using her crutches, towards the trail entrance at the Park.
•A ground search was conducted.
•Tina's crutches and personal belongings were located several days later at the bottom of a cliff in the Park, which is at the bank of the Illinois River.
•Tina was believed to have gone into the Illinois River based on the steep terrain where her property was recovered.
•Tina is still missing from Ottawa and the case remains under investigation.

 

[kelsie]

Hm. Eating from the tree of life.

 

[Cirxe]

I remember when this happened and surprised they haven’t found her or any more clues yet as it’s a heavily populated park. I can see how it’s dangerous there with lots of steep drops and bluffs.

Surprised nothing else turned up after recovery efforts from the massive storm system that blew through a few weeks ago. The park was closed for several days for clean up efforts.