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Wardner senior found three days after she went missing
UPDATE: Happily, Charlotte Burch was found alive and relatively well on the evening of Friday, July 29.
After finding her car parked alongside a hill near Lake Koocanusa, search and rescue personnel from the Elk Valley, Kimberley and Cranbrook, as well as RCMP, friends, family and Wardner area neighbours were able to narrow their search and eventually discovered Burch, 68, seated on a stump.
Burch, who suffers from a form of mild dementia, was found at 8:30 p.m.
She was taken to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, where she was checked for injuries and released.
Burch’s family and RCMP police wish to thank the many volunteers who participated in thesearch for their assistance.
In addition, Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors stated August 8 that they wish to pass their thanks along to the rescuers and to the RCMP.
Original story:
Cranbrook RCMP are seeking public assistance in locating a 68-year-old woman, who has been missing from her home in Wardner since noon on July 25. Charlotte Burch was last seen driving away from her residence on the Wardner-Kikomun Road, south of Wardner, in her 2011 silver HONDA CRV, licence number 372PEX.
She told family members that she was going to visit family members, who were camping 6 km south of her residence, overlooking Lake Koocanusa. Although a neighbour saw Burch driving towards the campsite, she never arrived, and hasn’t been seen since.
Burch suffers from early stage dementia, but still functions well. It is out of character for her to leave home without telling her family where she is going. BURCH is describes as being 5’6″ tall, 170 pounds, with grey hair and wears glasses. At this time, the family is unsure what Burch was wearing.
An extensive aerial search of the area near Burch’s residence, the vast network of forest service roads south and west from here, the shores of Lake Koocanusa, and the Bull River area haven’t located her vehicle. Her family and friends have driven many of these roads, too, but have not discovered any trace her, or her vehicle. Cranbrook Search & Rescue (P.E.P.) has mobilized resources to assist in this search.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Charlotte BURCH, please contact the Cranbrook RCMP at (250)489-3471.
Released by Corporal C.G. (Chris) Faulkner, Media Relations Officer, East Kootenay (Cranbrook), B.C.
Cell (250)489-9589
