HERE IS THE STORY REPORTED BY THE HUSBAND AND AUNT:
RHONDA WAS ON A DAY LONG HUNTING TRIP WITH HER COMMON LAW HUSBAND, THEIR 18 MONTH OLD SON AND THE HUSBAND'S AUNT. THE HUSBAND AND AUNT SAY, THEIR TRUCK BECAME STUCK IN THE MUD ON A CUTLINE/TRAIL AND THEY BLEW THE MOTOR TRYING TO GET IT OUT.
THE END OF MARCH IS THE BEGINNING OF SPRING. THE WEATHER CAN GO FROM SUNNY AND MELTING TO RAIN/SNOW OR A RAGGING BLIZZARD IN NO TIME. AT NIGHTS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS WELL BELOW FREEZING.
THE HUSBAND WAS ANGRY AND TOOK OFF INTO THE BUSH WITH HIS HUNTING RIFLE, LEAVING THE REST OF THE PARTY AT THE TRUCK. THE HUSBAND GOT LOST AND WONDER AROUND TRYING TO FIND HIS WAY OUT. HE SAID HE FINALLY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE BUSH.
MEANWHILE THE AUNT SAYS HER, RHONDA AND BABY STAYED AT THE TRUCK. THEY TRIED TO START A FIRE, BUT COULDN'T. THE AUNT SAID AT FIRST HER, RHONDA AND THE BABY WHERE GOING TO WALK OUT. SHE SAID, THEY WHERE NOT SURE WHERE THEY WHERE, BUT SUSPECTED A COUNTRY STORE WAS NOT FAR AWAY( this store was about a 30 minute drive, much to far to walk to). THEY WROTE A NOTE LEAVING IT FOR THE HUSBAND, BUT THEN DECIDED THE AUNT, WHO WAS SICKLY SHOULD STAY WITH THE BABY AT THE TRUCK.
THE AUNT SAID IT WAS ALREADY DARK WHEN RHONDA DECIDED TO LEAVE. THE AUNT CLAIMS,RHONDA DRESSED IN TWO SETS OF CLOTHING AND PUT HER RUNNING SHOES ON AND HER HUSBANDS RUNNING SHOES ON. (this is quite a trick. putting ladies size 8 shoes into men's size 10?
)SHE SAYS SHE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND RHONDA WALKED OF INTO THE BUSH. (This direction is West/Northwest the store was northeast. Rhonda was experienced in the outdoors and would never have left in the dark. It is strange she would try to walk considering her poor medical state. When her mother had seen her several days before she could barley walk due to her damaged kidney.)
THE HUSBAND SAYS HE FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO THE TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING AS HIS AUNT KEPT HONKING THE HORN. THEY SAY THEY SPENT ANOTHER NIGHT HERE; NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THEIR WAY OUT. (This is also strange as they where only about a mile off the Swan Lake gravel road. After the first half mile you can see and hear the road.This road is used year long) IT HAS NOW BEEN 24 HOURS SINCE RHONDA LEFT.
THEY SAY THE NEXT DAY THEY FINALLY FOUND THEIR WAY OUT TO THE SWAN LAKE ROAD. HERE THEY SAY THEY SPENT ANOTHER NIGHT. IT HAS NOW BEEN 48 HRS OR 2 DAYS SINCE RHONDA WALKED FOR HELP.
THE NEXT DAY THE AUNT SAID THEY FLAGGED DOWN A PASSING UTILITIES TRUCK AND USED THE DRIVER'S CELL PHONE TO CALL A RELATIVE TO COME AND GET THEM.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK IN TOWN THE HUSBAND ASKED ANOTHER RELATIVE TO REPORT RHONDA MISSING TO THE POLICE. HE SAID HE AND ANOTHER RELATIVE WENT BACK OUT TO TRY AND GET THE TRUCK.
THE AUNT TELLS THE POLICE SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GET TO WHERE THE TRUCK WAS STUCK. THE POLICE CAN NOT FIND THE HUSBAND TO TAKE THEM OUT TO THE SITE. IT HAS NOW BEEN 72HRS OR 3 DAYS SINCE RHONDA DISAPPEARED.
THE POLICE FINALLY LOCATE THE HUSBAND THE NEXT MORNING AND HE LEADS THEM TO THE AREA WHERE THE TRUCK IS.
A MASSIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION TAKES PLACE WITH POLICE, DOGS AND PROFESSIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS. THEY SEARCH THE AREA FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ALL THEY FIND A UNUSED COLOSTOMY BAG, AND SET OF CLOTHING THAT WHERE RHONDA'S NEAR THE TRUCK. NEAR BY A PAIR OF GLASSES THAT RHONDA'S BROTHER SAYS ARE HER'S, BUT POLICE SAY NO. (who do the glasses belong to?
).
FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE SEARCH GOES ON WITH NO SIGN OF RHONDA. FINALLY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DECIDES THAT RHONDA COULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED IN THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND IS PRESUMED DEAD. THE SEARCH IS CALLED OFF. NOT ONE SIGN OR CLUE OF HER IS FOUND! RHONDA JOINS THE FILE OF MISSING PERSONS.
HER MOTHER, STEPFATHER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY BEGIN THEIR OWN SEARCH, BUT THE WEATHER HAMPERS THEM. THIS IS WHEN I MET THE FAMILY AND BECAME THE SEARCH COORDINATOR.
FOR FIVE YEARS WE HAVE ORGANIZED SEARCHES BUT HAVE NEVER FOUND HER REMAINS, AND IF SHE IS ALIVE THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY CLUES AS TO HER WHEREABOUTS.
