La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

The popular La Conner waterfront, usually a place for leisurely board-walk strolls, outdoor dining and festive selfie photography, became a grim scene last week as a search was undertaken in Swinomish Channel for a missing 27-year-old Kirkland woman.

Several search and rescue agencies from throughout the Puget Sound region, coordinated by the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, descended on La Conner after family members confirmed evidence located in the channel was linked to their relative, missing on Jan. 1.

Sgt. Brad Holmes, who administers the sheriff's office La Conner Detachment, told the Weekly News that a shoe belonging to the subject was found the afternoon of New Year's Day in the channel, about 50 feet from her last known phone location.

But as of Friday, Jan. 5, the subject of the search had not been found, according to a sheriff's office news release.

The sheriff's office had fielded a report early New Year's Day morning from family members concerned about the welfare of the woman. Holmes said she had sent them desponding texts, including goodbye messages stating that she loved them while indicating she was going to end her life. The Skagit County 911 office took a 5:38 a.m. call of a suicide attempt in La Conner.

"Family was able to use a phone app to locate the subject, who appeared to be driving in the area of La Conner and was eventually pinpointed to the south end of town," said Holmes.

The sheriff's office responded and located the woman's vehicle but was unable to find her, Holmes said.

"At this point," he said, "her phone appeared to be turned off and was no longer providing (her) location through the app or accepting calls and texts.

"Deputies searched the area on foot," said Holmes, "but were unable to locate her."

The missing woman's shoe was found around 3 p.m. on Jan. 1, setting in motion a search operation utilizing Skagit Bay Search & Rescue and the Skagit County and King County Search & Rescue K-9 units.

Homes said the K-9s are trained in water scent detection.

Nancy Crowell

All hands on deck for the search, including K9 officers.

"Subsequent search efforts," the sheriff's office stated in its Jan. 5 press release, "have also included divers from U.S. Customs and the Border Protection BORSTAR Dive team, boats, K-9, divers, a remote-operated vehicle, sonar and drones from the King County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit and the Skagit County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol."

At noon Monday, Jan.8, search teams were still active. Vehicles and staff were operating from the parking lot below Maple Hall. On Friday staff had worked out of Maple Hall.

Word had begun circulating in town mid-week that a search was under way for a woman who had gone missing on the La Conner waterfront toward the south end of the business district. A social media post on Wednesday from a woman who identified herself as the subject's mother said the "whole family are distressed (and) looking for her."

The sheriff's office is asking that anyone with information related to the case contact officers at 360-428-3211. Callers are to reference Case Number 24-00004.