This article was last updated at 1:22 p.m. on May 3.
An elderly woman who was last seen hiking on Windy Hill Open Space Preserve on Thursday, May 1, is currently missing in Portola Valley, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Search and rescue units were first deployed on Thursday afternoon.
Redwood City resident Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, who has dementia, is described as a 79-year-old white female with short gray hair and was wearing a red jacket and black pants when she was last seen. While hiking northbound on the Lost Trail, McKinley, who is very active, walked ahead of the group and her family members lost sight of her. She has been missing since 12:10 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit, San Mateo County Search and Rescue Unit, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, volunteers on horseback and the Sheriff’s Office new certified tracking and trailing K-9 were out searching last night.
“We remain very hopeful that we will locate Elaine so she can be reunited with her loved ones. We extend our appreciation to the many specially trained volunteers who have answered the call to assist with the search,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.
A Portola Valley resident said search and rescue vehicles and teams were at the Windy Hill Preserve parking lot around 7 a.m. on Friday.
On the morning of May 2, the team has began canvassing nearby houses to ask residents if they have seen anyone that resembles McKinley, according to a post on PV Forum, Portola Valley’s private social media platform.
Over 150 trained volunteers are on foot, bike and horseback searching for the subject. Search and rescue personnel from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin and Sonoma County have joined the search.
According to Corpus, the search and rescue unit has covered about 12 miles of the trail in search for McKinley. On Friday afternoon, the state Office of Emergency Services flew out its Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System Program planes from Sacramento. These planes will be able to detect any body heat among the 1,400 acres of Windy Hill. Currently the Sheriff’s Office has deployed airplanes and are using drones.
Authorities reported that McKinley was not carrying a cell phone but had water and an apple. K-9’s were able briefly pick up her scent but unfortunately lost it on a roadway, said Corpus. Officers are prepared to expand their search if they do not find her soon.
“We’re not going to leave any stone unturned and we’re going to utilize all the resources that we have at the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office,” said Corpus.
An SMC Alert was sent out to the community requesting the public’s assistance in reviewing any video surveillance footage such as on doorbell cameras to see if McKinley has been in the area starting from Thursday, May 1 at 10 a.m. If residents spot McKinley in their footage, call 911 immediately in addition to filling out an online form.
Law enforcement officials are also asking residents to check their properties and any out buildings for the missing woman.
The California Highway Patrol also issued a silver alert around 12 p.m. on May 2.
The Sheriff’s Office requests that locals avoid the area around the preserve’s parking lot to allow authorities to conduct their work. Although the parking lot off of Portola Road remains closed, the preserve is open and entrance can be accessed through Skyline Boulevard.
Authorities ask that anyone with sightings or information to call 911.
