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

[neesaki]

They did text, the day before she went missing, according to NY Post.

Seems odd to me, she said she was “going to go“ on a trek, if she was already in the midst of said trek. Just sayin…. One more thing that seems off. Something still seems wrong. I mean, more than just an accident. JMO

 

[WingsOverTX]

Seems odd to me, she said she was “going to go“ on a trek, if she was already in the midst of said trek. Just sayin…. One more thing that seems off. Something still seems wrong. I mean, more than just an accident. JMO

Agree. I don't think she was on a third leg of the Kumano Kodo (MOO) - no planned itinerary for any of her travels in Japan since early March has been shared except the 11-mile stretch of the Kohechi between the two hostels. I wish we knew more about what trails she had marked off her pilgrimage list by April 9th.

I just had a thought though. Maybe with her early start on April 10, she decided to move on to another part of the trail system that afternoon and just blew off her planned stay for that night? Seems unlikely since reservations are recommended because the limited lodging options get booked up.

I do want wonder if the Australian man she met at her hostel on April 9 was ever eliminated as a potential POI.

A woman alone has so many stranger dangers that can put her in jeopardy. And when crimes occur in remote areas, getting answers can be daunting even with fairly obvious clues.

These kinds of cases are awful. What could have happened? And why?

JMO

 

[slowpoke]

Ok, this Japanese news article is more helpful in understanding Pattie’s routes. Based on this, I think she was in Japan to walk a different pilgrimage, the Shikoku route. Adding the Kumano Kodo route was the new addition, as she learned about it while on the Shikoku route. IMO

Here it is in Japanese (this was shared on the HEli Find Pattie FB page):

十津川不明女性の捜索続く - 家族ら来日、協力や情報を募集｜奈良新聞デジタル

巡礼体験を通して生き方を見つめ、平和を祈った一人のアメリカ人女性(60)が今月10日、奈良県十津川村の熊野古道小辺路(こへち)で姿を消した。五條署は山岳遭難と事件に巻き込まれた可能性の両面から捜索活動を継続。民間の山岳プロや米国ボランティアら捜索の輪が広がっているが、20日になるが今も手がかりは一つもない。来日した家族は情報や協力を求めている。

www.nara-np.co.jp

And here’s the awkward Google Translate for part of the article:

[Husband:] “My last video call with Patricia was on the morning of the 8th Japan time. "She will walk the Kumano Kodo for four days," she said. By the 14th, when Kirk was found missing in his home country, the phone was no longer working.

Patricia learned about the Kumano Kodo during her Shikoku pilgrimage, and entered Koya-cho, Wakayama Prefecture after walking through Shikoku Sacred Sites 24-88. I had already made a reservation for the next lodging in Totsukawa village and planned to go there, and on the 16th, I was planning to join my friend and tour Shikoku sacred sites 1 to 23.”

 

[slowpoke]

Pattie’s daughter posted onthe Help Find Pattie FB page a video where her mom was interviewed about the Camino de Santiago. She sounds like a very lovely, confident, capable person who would be a joy to meet.

Help Find Pattie | My mom was interviewed for a Japanese documentary while walking the Camino de Santiago in 2022

My mom was interviewed for a Japanese documentary while walking the Camino de Santiago in 2022. She happened upon the crew by chance, tapping one of the members on the shoulder to strike up a...

www.facebook.com

 

[Cedars]

Seems odd to me, she said she was “going to go“ on a trek, if she was already in the midst of said trek. Just sayin…. One more thing that seems off. Something still seems wrong. I mean, more than just an accident. JMO

I wouldn't be surprised if the NY Post garbled the details between different communications at different times, I wouldn't draw important conclusions from a source like that. However, they were texting after their last phone call.

IMO, the family probably feel bad that they weren't concerned about her, when they didn't hear from her for a few days, and IMO that's why her husband keeps repeating that she told him she might be out of cell range. I'm sure it's upsetting to realize she'd been in trouble, and they had no idea.

There are so many emotions, suspicions, imaginings that come up to fill the void of 'not knowing'. But that's all they are: imaginary. Chasing imaginery rabbits down imaginery rabbit holes.

JMO

 

[ZaZara]

Ok, this Japanese news article is more helpful in understanding Pattie’s routes. Based on this, I think she was in Japan to walk a different pilgrimage, the Shikoku route. Adding the Kumano Kodo route was the new addition, as she learned about it while on the Shikoku route. IMO

Here it is in Japanese (this was shared on the HEli Find Pattie FB page):

十津川不明女性の捜索続く - 家族ら来日、協力や情報を募集｜奈良新聞デジタル

巡礼体験を通して生き方を見つめ、平和を祈った一人のアメリカ人女性(60)が今月10日、奈良県十津川村の熊野古道小辺路(こへち)で姿を消した。五條署は山岳遭難と事件に巻き込まれた可能性の両面から捜索活動を継続。民間の山岳プロや米国ボランティアら捜索の輪が広がっているが、20日になるが今も手がかりは一つもない。来日した家族は情報や協力を求めている。

www.nara-np.co.jp

And here’s the awkward Google Translate for part of the article:

[Husband:] “My last video call with Patricia was on the morning of the 8th Japan time. "She will walk the Kumano Kodo for four days," she said. By the 14th, when Kirk was found missing in his home country, the phone was no longer working.

Patricia learned about the Kumano Kodo during her Shikoku pilgrimage, and entered Koya-cho, Wakayama Prefecture after walking through Shikoku Sacred Sites 24-88. I had already made a reservation for the next lodging in Totsukawa village and planned to go there, and on the 16th, I was planning to join my friend and tour Shikoku sacred sites 1 to 23.”

That would explain a lot. She prepared for the Shikoku pilgrimage, then heard about the Kumano Kodo and decided to walk there on a whim. Hence her info not being up to date, and the warning to her husband that she might not have a cell phone connection in the coming days.
Walking 4 days on the Kumano Kodo would make her a dual pilgrim, IMO that would be an attractive idea.

Was she really up to that, I wonder? Or was she more tired than she was aware, with too many impressions from the Shikoku pilgrimage? Accidents can happen under those circumstances, or a person takes the wrong decision, or a series of small decisions that amount to one big mistake. I am reminded of pilgrim Denise Thiem on the Camino. On the day she disappeared, she left late and decided not to walk with her companion. (If only she had...) Her feet hurt, she walked slowly, she took a detour and came to a point where the trail was unclear. At that time of the day, there was no one around to help her. She took the wrong road and was never seen alive again.

With Pattie, I still think it was an accident, and probably the river. But IMO foul play can no longer be excluded after all these searches. Foul play happens in the holiest of places. I follow the case of a French woman who disappeared a few years ago during sightseeing, possibly from an ancient cemetery in Nikko (not on the Kumano Kodo, but north of Tokio).

I do hope I am totally wrong about all that I have written here.

 

[WingsOverTX]

Ok, this Japanese news article is more helpful in understanding Pattie’s routes. Based on this, I think she was in Japan to walk a different pilgrimage, the Shikoku route. Adding the Kumano Kodo route was the new addition, as she learned about it while on the Shikoku route. IMO

Here it is in Japanese (this was shared on the HEli Find Pattie FB page):

十津川不明女性の捜索続く - 家族ら来日、協力や情報を募集｜奈良新聞デジタル

巡礼体験を通して生き方を見つめ、平和を祈った一人のアメリカ人女性(60)が今月10日、奈良県十津川村の熊野古道小辺路(こへち)で姿を消した。五條署は山岳遭難と事件に巻き込まれた可能性の両面から捜索活動を継続。民間の山岳プロや米国ボランティアら捜索の輪が広がっているが、20日になるが今も手がかりは一つもない。来日した家族は情報や協力を求めている。

www.nara-np.co.jp

And here’s the awkward Google Translate for part of the article:

[Husband:] “My last video call with Patricia was on the morning of the 8th Japan time. "She will walk the Kumano Kodo for four days," she said. By the 14th, when Kirk was found missing in his home country, the phone was no longer working.

Patricia learned about the Kumano Kodo during her Shikoku pilgrimage, and entered Koya-cho, Wakayama Prefecture after walking through Shikoku Sacred Sites 24-88. I had already made a reservation for the next lodging in Totsukawa village and planned to go there, and on the 16th, I was planning to join my friend and tour Shikoku sacred sites 1 to 23.”

That awkward translation does not help my understanding. See BBM.

The Kumano Kodo is an 80 miles or more trail system.

I am not comfortable relying pieces of information with no clear context. I am not comfortable with making assumptions based on the same.

I realize others here may find this useful. The family could put out clearly all known facts. And they should if they want legit help. Most of this story is not a mystery, facts are known, we are just not in possession of enough facts.

All we really know is PM was seen at one guest house & never arrived at her next guest house reservation. It's not enough to be able to reach any clear conclusions.

Which brings me to a question I have asked more than once: why is having very widespread media & social media coverage so important to the family in this missing person case? IMO this should be a local, targeted search.

It's as though they think she might be anywhere in Japan. I find that odd. YMMV

MOO

 

[Snoopster]

That awkward translation does not help my understanding. See BBM.

The Kumano Kodo is an 80 miles or more trail system.

I am not comfortable relying pieces of information with no clear context. I am not comfortable with making assumptions based on the same.

I realize others here may find this useful. The family could put out clearly all known facts. And they should if they want legit help. Most of this story is not a mystery, facts are known, we are just not in possession of enough facts.

All we really know is PM was seen at one guest house & never arrived at her next guest house reservation. It's not enough to be able to reach any clear conclusions.

Which brings me to a question I have asked more than once: why is having very widespread media & social media coverage so important to the family in this missing person case? IMO this should be a local, targeted search.

It's as though they think she might be anywhere in Japan. I find that odd. YMMV

MOO

I believe the family is pursuing widespread media and social media coverage because if it's an international case that has attention it puts pressure on Japanese officials to keep searching and keep the case open. And, so far it's worked. They also got American politicians involved for the same reason. I'd be doing the same thing as them. We also don't know that they haven't been pursuing a local publicity push. We likely don't have access to those sources, particularly since they would be in Japanese.

I'm not 'suspicious' of this case. In so many cases we don't have perfect details but I'll go with Occam's Razor. I believe she was on the Koheshi trek. She was last seen at a remote guesthouse in a tiny hamlet right dab in the middle of the Koheshi route. How else would she have gotten there? Hiking seems the most obvious.

Was it foul play? Very possibly, but I'm still leaning toward accident on the trail.

All JMO.

 

[Snoopster]

The family has added a new update to the G-F-M page. There is a lot of new information (I wish we could copy and paste it here, but I will try and paraphrase it.) but unfortunately no strong new leads.

First off, it seems that the family's efforts to get attention on the case in Japan continues to be working. The family has put in such an admirable effort. They must be absolutely exhausted! My thoughts are with them.
Here are the key points from the update:

1) SAR. Nara police are getting additional support now from surrounding regions that have experience in mountain rescue to help with planning and logistics. LE has been out every day since April 18 (when the family pushed them to reopen the search). The family also has had Mountain Works SAR out regularly and their resources have included cadavar dogs in their search. Additional US volunteers have also participated and all groups are collaborating. Family and local volunteers have walked adjacent trails in case Pattie took one of them. Through all of this searching they haven't found ANY evidence that Pattie was ever on this part of the trail.

2) Investigation. Since no evidence has been found so far on the trail they are also keeping all possible scenarios open and other avenues of investigation are being pursued by police and others. There are some updates in that regard for people following the case.
- CCTV: LE has collected all footage from April 9 and 10 from 3 cameras along the part of the trail where Pattie presumably went missing. LE has also requested footage from vehicles that have cameras. They continue to analyze the data.
- Tech: They missed the window of opportunity to use location data from Apple. Pattie was using an Esim in Japan and had about 2GB data remaining. They are pushing to get info from mobile phone companies as well as reaching out to Meta and Whatsapp for any location data they may have. Pattie does not have a smart watch or google account.
- hospitals, morgues and jails have all been checked.
- family has requested that LE check repair shops for vehicles since April 10 with front end damage.
- there are no suspects so far.

3) Publicity
- there was a rumour in local villages that Pattie had been found. Local officials put out a PSA on Apr 28 to counteract that rumour.
- the family has had 2 interviews with local papers to publicize the case in Japan.

How to follow the case on social media:


IG
@helpfindpattie2023
@murphymurad

Twitter
@helpfindpattie

Facebook
Help Find Pattie Group
Help Find Pattie | Facebook

eta: corrected typo

 

[ZaZara]

I believe the family is pursuing widespread media and social media coverage because if it's an international case that has attention it puts pressure on Japanese officials to keep searching and keep the case open. And, so far it's worked. They also got American politicians involved for the same reason. I'd be doing the same thing as them. We also don't know that they haven't been pursuing a local publicity push. We likely don't have access to those sources, particularly since they would be in Japanese.

I'm not 'suspicious' of this case. In so many cases we don't have perfect details but I'll go with Occam's Razor. I believe she was on the Koheshi trek. She was last seen at a remote guesthouse in a tiny hamlet right dab in the middle of the Koheshi route. How else would she have gotten there? Hiking seems the most obvious.

Was it foul play? Very possibly, but I'm still leaning toward accident on the trail.

All JMO.

All very good points.

I would like to add that the pilgrim community is very international.
The one fellow pilgrim that we have heard of is Australian. Australia is huge, an entire continent.

In the case of missing pilgrim Denise Thiem, who disappeared in an area of a few kms between two albergues / hostals, important witnesses came from Italy, China and Germany. The female pilgrims from China and Germany had reported harassment by a certain person years before Denise passed through the area.

 

[Snoopster]

A new article, from the Straits Times, but not really any new information. Just reaching a broader audience in Asia.

Family of woman missing on Japan hiking trail joins search and rescue efforts

But at this point, they are not giving up on the search. Mr Murad is hopeful for some news to come out of Japan’s Golden Week holidays that began on Saturday, when more local hikers may attempt the 70km Kumano Kodo network of trails with multiple routes his wife is believed to have embarked on.

 

[WingsOverTX]

The family has added a new update to the G-F-M page. There is a lot of new information (I wish we could copy and paste it here, but I will try and paraphrase it.) but unfortunately no strong new leads.

First off, it seems that the family's efforts to get attention on the case in Japan continues to be working. The family has put in such an admirable effort. They must be absolutely exhausted! My thoughts are with them.
Here are the key points from the update:

1) SAR. Nara police are getting additional support now from surrounding regions that have experience in mountain rescue to help with planning and logistics. LE has been out every day since April 18 (when the family pushed them to reopen the search). The family also has had Mountain Works SAR out regularly and their resources have included cadavar dogs in their search. Additional US volunteers have also participated and all groups are collaborating. Family and local volunteers have walked adjacent trails in case Pattie took one of them. Through all of this searching they haven't found ANY evidence that Pattie was ever on this part of the trail.

2) Investigation. Since no evidence has been found so far on the trail they are also keeping all possible scenarios open and other avenues of investigation are being pursued by police and others. There are some updates in that regard for people following the case.
- CCTV: LE has collected all footage from April 9 and 10 from 3 cameras long the part of the trail where Pattie presumably went missing. LE has also requested footage from vehicles that have cameras. They continue to analyze the data.
- Tech: They missed the window of opportunity to use location data from Apple. Pattie was using an Esim in Japan and had about 2GB data remaining. They are pushing to get info from mobile phone companies as well as reaching out to Meta and Whatsapp for any location data they may have. Pattie does not have a smart watch or google account.
- hospitals, morgues and jails have all been checked.
- family has requested that LE check repair shops for vehicles since April 10 with front end damage.
- there are no suspects so far.

3) Publicity
- there was a rumour in local villages that Pattie had been found. Local officials put out a PSA on Apr 28 to counteract that rumour.
- the family has had 2 interviews with local papers to publicize the case in Japan.

How to follow the case on social media:


IG
@helpfindpattie2023
@murphymurad

Twitter
@helpfindpattie

Facebook
Help Find Pattie Group
Help Find Pattie | Facebook

Thank you so much for sharing that summary!

 

[neesaki]

DBM

 

[Cedars]

I believe the family is pursuing widespread media and social media coverage because if it's an international case that has attention it puts pressure on Japanese officials to keep searching and keep the case open. And, so far it's worked.

Also, to raise funds such as they need, requires widespread publicity.

 

[Cedars]

That would explain a lot. She prepared for the Shikoku pilgrimage, then heard about the Kumano Kodo and decided to walk there on a whim. Hence her info not being up to date, and the warning to her husband that she might not have a cell phone connection in the coming days.
Walking 4 days on the Kumano Kodo would make her a dual pilgrim, IMO that would be an attractive idea.

Was she really up to that, I wonder? Or was she more tired than she was aware, with too many impressions from the Shikoku pilgrimage? Accidents can happen under those circumstances, or a person takes the wrong decision, or a series of small decisions that amount to one big mistake. I am reminded of pilgrim Denise Thiem on the Camino. On the day she disappeared, she left late and decided not to walk with her companion. (If only she had...) Her feet hurt, she walked slowly, she took a detour and came to a point where the trail was unclear. At that time of the day, there was no one around to help her. She took the wrong road and was never seen alive again.

With Pattie, I still think it was an accident, and probably the river. But IMO foul play can no longer be excluded after all these searches. Foul play happens in the holiest of places. I follow the case of a French woman who disappeared a few years ago during sightseeing, possibly from an ancient cemetery in Nikko (not on the Kumano Kodo, but north of Tokio).

I do hope I am totally wrong about all that I have written here.

I agree that it's usually a series of small circumstances that lead an otherwise experienced person into trouble. And in every single case that currently comes to mind, it began with the person deliberately or inadvertently going off-trail.

Whether that was before the walk, in the middle of the walk, or after she'd finished the walk for the day, we just don't know. I don't believe it's helpful to conclude she was never on the trail at all. That would close off too many possibilities of what might have happened.

Patti had already successfully completed probably a hundred similar days: heading out from one place and arriving at another. What made this day different?

People usually get into a rhythm of when they leave in the morning, and when they like to check in at the next place. Also, how often they do hard days, broken up with easy days (and what do they feel is a hard day?). How often do they like to stop to rest along the way, and what kind of places they like to eat lunch, or how much they like to explore/take unusual photos, etc.

For example, did she like to take photos of dramatic locations where a fall would be possible, like off a cliff or into water?

I think more info about her normal routine would be important.

I also wonder whether there are dead cell phone zones in the region? Because there are two kinds of scenarios for people who go missing - something sudden where they have no chance to call for help, or something more prolonged where they do try to call, but can't get through.

The key info in every case I've followed is phone pings. Apple ID only works when the person was in the vicinity of another Apple device.

The problem with phone pings is the person may keep the phone in flight mode, to avoid draining the battery. So a sudden event might not be associated with a ping.

JMO

 

[jakat]

I feel awful for the family wondering what has happened to Pattie.

<modsnip>

Continuing to say prayers Pattie is found safe and unharmed.

 

[ThoughtFox]

We don't think of any large animals being the cause of an accident in Japan, but the info about the hostel where she stayed said local hunters provided venison and wild boar meat for the visitors. A wild boar is a big scary animal that can definitely chase someone off a trail suddenly. I hope that's not the case, but just thinking of different scenarios.

 

[slowpoke]

That awkward translation does not help my understanding. See BBM.

The Kumano Kodo is an 80 miles or more trail system.

I am not comfortable relying pieces of information with no clear context. I am not comfortable with making assumptions based on the same.

I realize others here may find this useful. The family could put out clearly all known facts. And they should if they want legit help. Most of this story is not a mystery, facts are known, we are just not in possession of enough facts.

All we really know is PM was seen at one guest house & never arrived at her next guest house reservation. It's not enough to be able to reach any clear conclusions.

Which brings me to a question I have asked more than once: why is having very widespread media & social media coverage so important to the family in this missing person case? IMO this should be a local, targeted search.

It's as though they think she might be anywhere in Japan. I find that odd. YMMV

MOO

At the Help Find Pattie FB page there is the post by someone who submitted the link to the Nara Japanese language article who also included a presumed better translation of the whole article, if you can locate it.

Besides what others here have suggested for why the family is pushing for widespread media coverage, I think just out of desperate hope to reach that one person or persons who may be out there and have a key clue or expertise to help in some way. For example, say it was foul play…maybe a perpetrator has now left the area (to another part of Japan or even another country?) but has since been acting suspicious or said something odd, or suspect. If others in the hometown of this suspicious person have learned of Pattie going missing and think said person might have been on or near the Kohechi trail around that time, maybe someone will come forward with that tip.JMO

 

[Snoopster]

Regarding cell phone service....her family noted in the update that she had an Esim. My understanding is that an esim is a sim card that only provides data; not cell service. (I might be misunderstanding what and esim is, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!) She would have to rely on Wi-fi. This would explain why she said she might be out of range for a while as she wouldn't have access to wifi on the trail and some places might have limited, or no, wifi. Having said that, the Mandokoro guesthouse indicates in their listing that they have wifi.

 

[Snoopster]

I noticed that there was a searcher who posted a pile of photos on the 'Help Find Pattie' FB page. The photos really give a good feel for the area. As an aside, that searcher, Chris Berquist, was one of the people who found Amanda Eller, who was lost on Maui back in 2019. He ended up forming a non-profit search group with Eller's father.

Here is a link to that case:
HI - HI - Amanda Eller, 35, Trail near Makawao, Maui, 8 May 2019