Found Deceased JAPAN - Patricia "Pattie" Wu-Murad, 60, US Citizen, on hiking trip Kumano Kodo Trail, didn't arr next stop Osaka, 10 Apr 2023

[nhmemorymaker]

So many of us fell in love with Patti..and the love and strength from and with her family.
Easy to expect outcome
Still hard to accept outcome.

 

[Sillybilly]

Could be nothing, but the article indicates a femur was found. It's curious that it makes no reference to other remains also being found.

 

[DS2021]

Could be nothing, but the article indicates a femur was found. It's curious that it makes no reference to other remains also being found.

Animals scatter remains. It's not uncommon for only partial remains to be found

 

[Sillybilly]

Animals scatter remains. It's not uncommon for only partial remains to be found

I'm aware of that, and as I stated it could be nothing. IMO, it is just odd to have specific reference to a single femur rather than remains in general or partial remains.

 

[slowpoke]

I'm aware of that, and as I stated it could be nothing. IMO, it is just odd to have specific reference to a single femur rather than remains in general or partial remains.

I think that may be all that they found. The article said “with all the movement of water coming down the mountain, movement of gravel, erosion, she may not have died right there, it might have been up higher.”

Earlier in the article it said the son started searching that non-Kohechi path area where the backpack and femur was found, but stopped after a certain point, saying it was too dangerous there so they thought it unlikely she would have gone that way.


And as for being specific when sharing the news of what bone was found, I guess it just goes with how open this family has been with reporting all the details of their progress throughout their search for their dear Pattie.

Moo

 

[LookingForClues]

I wonder if she ever thought she was on the wrong trail. I know I've been in that situation while hiking, but kept going thinking "maybe this is just a short tricky section I didn't expect from the trail description."

 

[slowpoke]

One bittersweet thought that gave me a little smile: thank goodness for fishermen and their secret fishing holes!

That’s what I am imagining with the fisherman who came upon Pattie’s backpack and shoe in the remote place. Some fishermen enjoy finding secret spots to fish, and usually like to keep it a secret, too.

It’s fortunate that this man did the wonderful thing for the family by going to the police about his find.

It really was like looking for the ‘needle in the haystack’. Fortunate find by accident or divine providence—who knows—but so glad this man decided to fish there that day!

 

[ZaZara]

Bless the person who kept on searching.

RIP Pattie

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"Although we had tried to prepare ourselves for this outcome, the finality of this news is heartbreaking. It offers a measure of closure, but many questions remain unanswered, including the exact circumstances and cause of Pattie's death."

"On Friday, May 9, 2025, our family received confirmation that our beloved Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, and Friend, Pattie Wu-Murad, is deceased," the family said in the update, which was posted on a Facebook group dedicated to finding the missing mom.

"During his hike, he discovered several of Pattie's personal items and what appeared to be a femur. He delivered the remains to the local Japanese police, who confirmed they were human."

"Although we had tried to prepare ourselves for this outcome, the finality of this news is heartbreaking." "It offers a measure of closure, but many questions remain unanswered, including the exact circumstances and cause of Pattie's death."

Remains of Missing Conn. Woman Found in Japan, 2 Years After Her Disappearance: 'Many Questions Remain Unanswered'

The remains of Pattie Wu-Murad of Connecticut have been identified, more than two years after she first went missing in 2023 during a 700-mile hike in Japan. Pattie's family shared that search and rescue experts retraced the area near where her backpack was found last year and discovered her...

people.com

 

[Charlot123]

Too sad. RIP, Pattie. Condolences, best of wishes and sincerest compassion to Pattie’s family and friends.

 

[justtrish]

Rest in peace Pattie. You left this world doing what you loved, and you inspired so many of us when your story made the news. I hope we can find out one day what happened in your final moments.

 

[Little Jack]

If I were her son I'd be in misery that id been on that other trail and decided not to continue. I hope he is able to forgive himself and know that he did is best and it isnt his fault. He made the best decision he could at the time to maximize their odds of finding her. There is no way he could have known.

 

[ErinC]

If I were her son I'd be in misery that id been on that other trail and decided not to continue. I hope he is able to forgive himself and know that he did is best and it isnt his fault. He made the best decision he could at the time to maximize their odds of finding her. There is no way he could have known.

For his sake, I'm glad he didn't. Not only would it have been horrible for him to come upon his mother's remains, but if the trail was as treacherous as they say, he could well have been badly injured himself. Thank goodness for the searcher who was able to go that way, and for the fisherman who started it all.

 

[vls12345]

For his sake, I'm glad he didn't. Not only would it have been horrible for him to come upon his mother's remains, but if the trail was as treacherous as they say, he could well have been badly injured himself. Thank goodness for the searcher who was able to go that way, and for the fisherman who started it all.

Agreed. And, even if he had continued searching on the treacherous path, he might not have found her. Since the articles state it's possible that she was originally higher, she might have been in a different location or path which, over time, eroded or washed out so her remains ended up at the location where they were ultimately found.

Peace to Pattie & her family & friends in honor of all the lives she touched.

 

[ZaZara]

I read through the entire thread.
Unfortunately, the pictures of the searches have all disappeared.
The area with rocks and ravines is so dangerous. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea for this one person to go searching alone, and that is why he needed Kirk's permission ~ and let him know when he returned safely.

 

[StillDiggin]

Family of missing Japan hiker from Storrs gets closure after remains are found

The family of a missing Storrs woman who disappeared while hiking in Japan more than two years ago is getting a sense of closure after her remains were found earlier this month. Pattie Wu-Murad went missing in April of 2023 while hiking alone in the Nara prefecture in central Japan. Her family...

www.nbcconnecticut.com

 

[Charlot123]

If I were her son I'd be in misery that id been on that other trail and decided not to continue. I hope he is able to forgive himself and know that he did is best and it isnt his fault. He made the best decision he could at the time to maximize their odds of finding her. There is no way he could have known.

It would not have in any way changed the outcome for Patty. So, he shouldn’t even think it is his fault.

 

[jennytrevor]

Are there any maps displaying Patti’s supposed route versus where her body was found?

I also wonder if the remains have any indication that could suggest her cause of death, for example a skull fracture or fractured leg. It doesn’t seem like it from the articles. But curious.

 

[ZaZara]

Are there any maps displaying Patti’s supposed route versus where her body was found?

I also wonder if the remains have any indication that could suggest her cause of death, for example a skull fracture or fractured leg. It doesn’t seem like it from the articles. But curious.

One femur was found. That is all.

Maps of the area where the backpack was found are a few pages ago on this thread.

 

[jennytrevor]

One femur was found. That is all.

Maps of the area where the backpack was found are a few pages ago on this thread.

Interesting, the way things were worded I was beginning to think they had found the femur and then some other bones. But when I look at the articles more I agree you’re right.