SC SC - Stephanie Womacks, 52, Table Rock State Park, 3 Mar 2025

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This is harrowing. I’m so glad everyone was OK.

“On Friday March 21, 2025 at approximately 5:45pm, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a call from Law Enforcement Officers who were searching for Stephanie Womacks, who went missing earlier this month, reporting a fire at Table Rock State Park. The location of the fire trapped the deputies and a number of hikers for a period of time. Fortunately, the presence of emergency personnel with the Sheriff’s Office and Table Rock State Park allowed them to account for and rescue everyone with no injuries.”

www.wyff4.com

South Carolina: Latest updates on Table Rock State Park fire

A wildfire is burning at Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, South Carolina, and authorities believe it was started by hikers.
www.wyff4.com www.wyff4.com
 
BlkMtnGirl said:
There is a forest fire at the top of Table Rock this evening. Here’s an interview with Stephanie’s son. There are a couple of better photos of Stephanie. The family is asking for volunteer searchers tomorrow morning. I really hope the fire doesn’t hinder their efforts. It’s pretty far from the campground, so I think it will be okay, but…
Click to expand...
I just realized I didn’t attach the video with Stephanie’s son. Family of missing Upstate hiker seeks volunteers for large search party
 
I'm sorry to triple post. The fire has gotten much worse and is now 0% contained and over 100 acres. Hurricane Helene ravaged this area and there is a lot of deadfall. This picture looks like a lot more than 100 acres to me. Is anyone a forest fire expert? I would think if poor Stephanie is no longer with us, a forest fire like this would make her easier to find if she's up on that mountain. My gut instinct is that she is lower down in the flatter land because I would think a lost person would not walk up (except maybe for a while to try to get back to the campsite.) If the fire continues at the rate it's going, the valley will continue to burn until it reaches the meadows below. Prayers for the families who are having to evacuate.
 
The fire has now burned more than 4500 acres and is zero percent contained today. People all over North and South Carolina who were already affected by Helene once now are in fear of wildfires. The smoke is everywhere. I can’t find anything about Stephanie. I’m sure everyone assumes the worst. I just hope her family can get some closure at some point.
 
Looks like the fire is over. I hope the family has not given up looking for Stephanie. I have reached out to the Son and Sheriff's department and offered my help. I would like to sonar map Table Rock Reservoir to see if she is in the water and drone map the forest between the reservoir and campground. With much of the underbrush burned it may be easier to find her remains if she did pass away somewhere in the forest.

www.facebook.com

The South Carolina Forestry Commission

TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE - APRIL 3, 2025 *This will be the final update for the Table Rock Complex TABLE ROCK FIRE SIZE: 13,845 acres -13,210 acres (SC) -635 acres (NC) CONTAINMENT: 91% START...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE - APRIL 3, 2025
*This will be the final update for the Table Rock Complex
TABLE ROCK FIRE
SIZE: 13,845 acres
-13,210 acres (SC)
-635 acres (NC)
CONTAINMENT: 91%
START DATE: March 21, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
On Wednesday, firefighters secured the perimeter of the Table Rock Fire. Fire resources will continue to patrol and mop-up any remaining hotspots as containment nears 100%. Today's focus will shift to suppression repair, which involves stabilizing exposed soil with seed and straw to prevent erosion and remove dirt and debris from stream crossings. Firefighters will install water bars on containment lines, which are small diagonal ridges built across the fireline to divert surface water runoff back into the woods. Crews will complete backhauling equipment today.
 
Quick update from my effort's to search for Stephanie.

Other than investigation, I use Aerial Drones, Manned Sonar Search boats, Remotely Operated Sonar Search Boats, Underwater ROV's, and Underwater Camera Systems to search for missing persons and vehicles. I also use computer programs to analyze the aerial photos and the sonar data and to create detailed maps of both. Oh, and occasionally, my own 2 feet. :)

So here is the conundrum for me to search for Stephanie.

In order to use aerial drones, in accordance with SC Law, I need permission to operate in a state park. In order to sonar search and map Table Rock Reservoir, which is private property and not publicly accessible, I need permission from Greenville Watershed.

I have reached out to the administrator of the Greenville Watershed and spoke with the secretary. I left my contact information and requested to talk with someone about gaining access to Table Rock Reservoir to sonar search and map and search with underwater drones. Waiting for a call back.

I have reached out to Sheriff Blankenship and spoke with his secretary. I left my contact information and requested to talk with someone to gain access to search areas such as the state park with aerial drones and to sonar search and map Table Rock Reservoir. Waiting for a call back.

The Sheriff's secretary did tell me that they are currently discussing next steps in the search for Stephanie and there "may" be a press conference shortly.
 
From an investigative side, here are some pertinent knowns.
  • Stephanie Womacks, 52, was camping with her husband at White Oak camping area of Table Rock State Park when she was reported missing on Monday, March 3.
  • She was last seen around 5-6 pm when her husband left Stephanie to go get supplies.
  • An hour later he returned and Stephanie was missing
  • It is believed that she left with her walking stick and blanket
  • An extensive search for Stephanie ensued starting on Tuesday
    • Multiple agencies grid searched the park
    • K-9s were utilized
    • A Helicopter and Drones with thermal imaging
    • A search boat with sonar capability was deployed on Pinnacle Lake, along with divers
  • On Friday her walking stick, hat, blanket, and packs of cigarettes were located a couple hundred yards from her campsite
  • Multiple agencies continued searching the Greenville Watershed and outward areas at Table Rock State Park in Pickens
  • On Friday March 21, 2025 at approximately 5:45pm, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a call from Law Enforcement Officers who were searching for Stephanie, reported a fire at Table Rock State Park.
  • From March 22nd to present, the search for Stephanie has been suspended due to the fires which burned over 13,000 acres and was finally contained around April 4th.
Information about Stephanie Womacks.
  • Army Combat Veteran 1991-1995 (LinkedIn)
  • Army Mental Health Specialist 2005-2015 (LinkedIn)
  • 100% Disabled Veteran (Family)
My analysis from what is known. (A process I go through with every missing persons case I work on)

I have ruled out foul play based on the Sheriff's Department observations and public reports. I do not think she got lost and had an accident. The extensive search in a limited area she could be in, albeit rough, only found items she left behind. These items indicate to me that self-harm is a probable outcome. Here is why.
  • Stephanie left late in the afternoon, after her husband went for supplies. This indicates to me, she wanted to leave without resistance.
  • She took her blanket and Pack(s) of cigarettes with her. This indicates to me, she planned to be away for an extended period of time.
  • Her blanket, hat, walking stick, and cigarette pack(s) were left behind a couple hundred yards from the campsite. This indicates to me, she had a resolution where these items no longer matter.
Table Rock Reservoir is just over a mile away through gap in the terrain that is easier to traverse than other areas of the park. From what I have been able to determine, the reservoir has not been extensively searched like other areas.

1744246954682.webp


Thoughts and comments welcome.
 
Vern_S said:
From an investigative side, here are some pertinent knowns.
  • Stephanie Womacks, 52, was camping with her husband at White Oak camping area of Table Rock State Park when she was reported missing on Monday, March 3.
  • She was last seen around 5-6 pm when her husband left Stephanie to go get supplies.
  • An hour later he returned and Stephanie was missing
  • It is believed that she left with her walking stick and blanket
  • An extensive search for Stephanie ensued starting on Tuesday
    • Multiple agencies grid searched the park
    • K-9s were utilized
    • A Helicopter and Drones with thermal imaging
    • A search boat with sonar capability was deployed on Pinnacle Lake, along with divers
  • On Friday her walking stick, hat, blanket, and packs of cigarettes were located a couple hundred yards from her campsite
  • Multiple agencies continued searching the Greenville Watershed and outward areas at Table Rock State Park in Pickens
  • On Friday March 21, 2025 at approximately 5:45pm, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a call from Law Enforcement Officers who were searching for Stephanie, reported a fire at Table Rock State Park.
  • From March 22nd to present, the search for Stephanie has been suspended due to the fires which burned over 13,000 acres and was finally contained around April 4th.
Information about Stephanie Womacks.
  • Army Combat Veteran 1991-1995 (LinkedIn)
  • Army Mental Health Specialist 2005-2015 (LinkedIn)
  • 100% Disabled Veteran (Family)
My analysis from what is known. (A process I go through with every missing persons case I work on)

I have ruled out foul play based on the Sheriff's Department observations and public reports. I do not think she got lost and had an accident. The extensive search in a limited area she could be in, albeit rough, only found items she left behind. These items indicate to me that self-harm is a probable outcome. Here is why.
  • Stephanie left late in the afternoon, after her husband went for supplies. This indicates to me, she wanted to leave without resistance.
  • She took her blanket and Pack(s) of cigarettes with her. This indicates to me, she planned to be away for an extended period of time.
  • Her blanket, hat, walking stick, and cigarette pack(s) were left behind a couple hundred yards from the campsite. This indicates to me, she had a resolution where these items no longer matter.
Table Rock Reservoir is just over a mile away through gap in the terrain that is easier to traverse than other areas of the park. From what I have been able to determine, the reservoir has not been extensively searched like other areas.

View attachment 577904

Thoughts and comments welcome.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your interest in Stephanie's case. I followed your search for Frances Apperson in Linville Falls. Your suggestion of Stephanie's possible self-harm surprises me. I never have had the slightest self-harm vibe regarding Stephanie. I usually pick up on that pretty quickly. I'm not saying it's not possible, of course, and a few things you said make sense. But I just never got that vibe before. On your map, I assume the green line is a trail? Do you know if this is actually near where the items were found, or could it be a couple hundred yards away from the campground in a different direction?
 
BlkMtnGirl said:
Thank you for your interest in Stephanie's case. I followed your search for Frances Apperson in Linville Falls. Your suggestion of Stephanie's possible self-harm surprises me. I never have had the slightest self-harm vibe regarding Stephanie. I usually pick up on that pretty quickly. I'm not saying it's not possible, of course, and a few things you said make sense. But I just never got that vibe before. On your map, I assume the green line is a trail? Do you know if this is actually near where the items were found, or could it be a couple hundred yards away from the campground in a different direction?
Click to expand...
I do not have any information on her emotional state of mind. Was she upset, depressed, suffering from dementia, PTSD? Was she recently diagnosed with a terminal condition? Was the camping trip a get away for emotional/physical reasons?

Leaving late in the afternoon, practically at sunset, with pack(s) of cigarettes and her blanket, indicates to me that she was not in a proper state of mind. She needed to get away and think. The fact that all her items were left in one spot is also telling. Shows me she had intent and these ites were not needed and would just slow her down as she moved through the dense undergrowth.

Especially the pack(s) of cigarettes which can easily be carried in a pocket along with the lighter. pack(s) implies heavy smoker. What heavy smoker would leave them behind? Did she have a recent severe lung cancer diagnosis? What is she holding in her right hand like you would a cigarette in the circulated photo? Could she have left them with the other items because they are the cause of a dire health issues?

It's details like this that can sometimes provide a bigger picture. This is just how I analyze things.

1744291760946.webp


The green line is a direct route through the woods to the reservoir. It is 1.38 miles. Where I have a Possible Location of Her Personal Items is just a couple hundred yards along that path. Stephanie could have gone in another direction initially. More towards Table Rock is a possibility. The arc in the image shows the most probable. Other directions lead back into populated areas of the park. I would certainly like to know exactly where the items were found.

1744290753393.webp
 
Vern_S said:
I do not have any information on her emotional state of mind. Was she upset, depressed, suffering from dementia, PTSD? Was she recently diagnosed with a terminal condition? Was the camping trip a get away for emotional/physical reasons?

Leaving late in the afternoon, practically at sunset, with pack(s) of cigarettes and her blanket, indicates to me that she was not in a proper state of mind. She needed to get away and think. The fact that all her items were left in one spot is also telling. Shows me she had intent and these ites were not needed and would just slow her down as she moved through the dense undergrowth.

Especially the pack(s) of cigarettes which can easily be carried in a pocket along with the lighter. pack(s) implies heavy smoker. What heavy smoker would leave them behind? Did she have a recent severe lung cancer diagnosis? What is she holding in her right hand like you would a cigarette in the circulated photo? Could she have left them with the other items because they are the cause of a dire health issues?

It's details like this that can sometimes provide a bigger picture. This is just how I analyze things.

View attachment 578033

The green line is a direct route through the woods to the reservoir. It is 1.38 miles. Where I have a Possible Location of Her Personal Items is just a couple hundred yards along that path. Stephanie could have gone in another direction initially. More towards Table Rock is a possibility. The arc in the image shows the most probable. Other directions lead back into populated areas of the park. I would certainly like to know exactly where the items were found.

View attachment 578028
Click to expand...
Do you see any rocky ledges in your shaded area? There are a couple of trails heading NW from the campsite that are not shown on any of the Park website maps. They roughly follow Reed's Run up towards the base of the Table Mountain.

www.mountainproject.com

Climbing Map of Table Town

Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers.
www.mountainproject.com www.mountainproject.com

seems like she would have followed an actual trail, at least initially. I don't think the reservoir would be a likely end point. Unless you can confirm she left her items hiking NE cross country.

Looks like the fire might have burned very close to White Oak?
 
Missing Susan said:
Do you see any rocky ledges in your shaded area? There are a couple of trails heading NW from the campsite that are not shown on any of the Park website maps. They roughly follow Reed's Run up towards the base of the Table Mountain.

www.mountainproject.com

Climbing Map of Table Town

Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers.
www.mountainproject.com www.mountainproject.com

seems like she would have followed an actual trail, at least initially. I don't think the reservoir would be a likely end point. Unless you can confirm she left her items hiking NE cross country.

Looks like the fire might have burned very close to White Oak?
Click to expand...
Her items were found in thick terrain away from any trails. Trails are to the NW. I made an assumption of North. Table Rock Reservoir is also an assumption if Self-harm was in play. Either that or cliffs. Based on the extensive search up until the fire with no results, I suspect water.
 
I'm thinking arrival at the reservoir would have been accidental or happenstance. Rather than part of a suicidal plan. The lay of the land could have guided a troubled or lost person there as you suggest.

By all means, search there if possible. Also hit the lakes down by the highway. Who knows what is under that hwy bridge...
 
I visited Table Rock yesterday. I tried asking the employees where exactly were her items located and one was very hostile. Another park employee did confirm that the items were found not far from her campground, which was Lot 100. I'm paraphrasing her but she basically said it was near or on the trail around the White Oaks Campground.

Some articles and videos say her belongings were off the trail in the middle of the woods, while another article states that it was not on a designated trail (Not Designated Trail). This article quotes the emergency services director in saying the items were found on a trail (Items Found on Trail).

I may have a theory or clarification. There seems to be a trail in that area directly from her campsite that is NOT DESIGNATED. It is a climbing trail that is off limits due to falcons nesting and I think not being tended to. This trail is not found on any maps that Table Rock State Park provides. However, I was able to find it on AllTrails. It's called White Oaks trail and there seems to be a newer one that leads to Stool Mountain.

Humans naturally take the path of least resistance. I believe she walked on the White Oaks trail. Her belongs were either found on the trail or not too far from the trail. I'm guessing semantics and the trail not being designated lends credence. I also believe it's the White Oaks trail because according to this article (Face of Rock) quotes the sheriff as stating her belongings are between the campground at the face of the rock.

"The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office does not suspect foul play in Womacks’ disappearance, Blankenship said, and some of her belongings were found “in the middle of the woods between the face of the rock and her campground"

1745857851075.webp


As for why? I do not know. It shows sunset was 6:30pm and she was last seen at 5:00pm. I don't think she could have gotten to the top of Table Rock, especially in the area, before sunset or all together.
 
Last edited:
EccoGen1288 said:
I visited Table Rock yesterday. I tried asking the employees where exactly were her items located and one was very hostile. Another park employee did confirm that the items were found not far from her campground, which was Lot 100. I'm paraphrasing her but she basically said it was near or on the trail around the White Oaks Campground.

Some articles and videos say her belongings were off the trail in the middle of the woods, while another article states that it was not on a designated trail (Not Designated Trail). This article quotes the emergency services director in saying the items were found on a trail (Items Found on Trail).

I may have a theory or clarification. There seems to be a trail in that area directly from her campsite that is NOT DESIGNATED. It is a climbing trail that is off limits due to falcons nesting and I think not being tended to. This trail is not found on any maps that Table Rock State Park provides. However, I was able to find it on AllTrails. It's called White Oaks trail and there seems to be a newer one that leads to Stool Mountain.

Humans naturally take the path of least resistance. I believe she walked on the White Oaks trail. Her belongs were either found on the trail or not too far from the trail. I'm guessing semantics and the trail not being designated lends credence. I also believe it's the White Oaks trail because according to this article (Face of Rock) quotes the sheriff as stating her belongings are between the campground at the face of the rock.

"The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office does not suspect foul play in Womacks’ disappearance, Blankenship said, and some of her belongings were found “in the middle of the woods between the face of the rock and her campground"

View attachment 582265

As for why? I do not know. It shows sunset was 6:30pm and she was last seen at 5:00pm. I don't think she could have gotten to the top of Table Rock, especially in the area, before sunset or all together.
Click to expand...
Thank you for checking out the park. I wonder what the sheriff meant when he said Stephanie went on a "personal mission?" (in your first linked article.) From your description of the undesignated trail, it sounds like it wasn't marked well and she got turned around. :-( How is the park? I know the big trail is closed but wondered if it's still a busy place right now.
 
They said the camper was also missing. I think she took it. If someone had wanted to steal it, she would have been found. (Thinking logically)
 
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