Missing west Olympia woman found dead on third day of search
A woman who went missing in west Olympia Thursday was found dead Saturday morning as search efforts and concern for her well-being intensified, according to police.
There were no signs of foul play, Olympia police Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian.
The body of Pyeongja Cheon, 78, was found about 10 a.m. Saturday in woods east of her home in the Woodbury Crossing neighborhood near the U.S. 101 exit to The Evergreen State College, Lower told The Olympian. She hadn’t been seen since about 11 a.m. Thursday, and family reported her missing Thursday afternoon.
Cheon had a consistent daily routine and was known to go on walks. Lower told The Olympian the department was hopeful but “highly concerned” before officers found her.
Olympia police detectives had looked for Cheon late into Thursday night, Lower said, and called in Thurston County’s search-and-rescue team to search the west side Friday morning. The team and tracking dogs spent the entire day searching her neighborhood, where she was last seen, and the surrounding area, Lower said.
Friday’s search ended at nightfall, when an incident downtown called away officers, Lower said.
A larger search team assembled Saturday morning, including aid from Pierce and Thurston County search-and-rescue teams. This time, Lower said, the plan was to conduct a “grid search” that involves searchers lining up 8-10 feet apart to start covering a specific area.
Using that method, search-and-rescue teams from Thurston County Sheriff’s Office found her within two hours, Lower said.
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