Denise Ann Williams was last heard from on April 15
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Denise-Ann-Williams-050325-3-ffa3d3204c6d49ffb5d03481e754950f.jpg "Woman goes missing while hiking in Canada National Park, Family Still Hasn’t Heard from Her Weeks Later")
Credit: rcmp
NEED TO KNOW
- Denise Ann Williams, 62, of Australia, was reported missing after she was last heard from on April 15 in Nova Scotia, Canada
- Her rental car was later found near a trailhead in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where authorities believe she planned to take a hike
- A multi-agency search is underway, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward
A woman went missing while on a hiking trip, and she has not been heard from in weeks.
Inverness County District Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a report of a missing person believed to have been hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Canada on April 28, according to a news release from RCMP.
The hiker, 62-year-old Denise Ann Williams of Australia, was last heard from on April 15 when she indicated that she was traveling to Chéticamp, a small coastal village in Nova Scotia, per the release.
Williams' rental car, a Nissan Sentra, was then located at the Parks Canada Visitor Center near the Acadian trailhead.
The 5.2-mile trail hike is described as a “moderate” difficulty level and entails “ocean and mountain scenery, steep inclines, rugged sections and stream crossings,” according to Parks Canada.
Williams is "described as 5-foot-4 with greyish blonde, shoulder-length hair,” per RCMP.
Credit: rcmp
They added that she was believed to have been wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder blue knit winter hat with “Antarctica” written on it, an orange and blue scarf and glasses at the time of her disappearance.
A search effort involving RCMP, the Department of Natural Resources Air Services, RCMP Police Dog Services and multiple other agencies began on April 28 and is still ongoing, per police.
RCMP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
While speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about the situation, Nova Scotia police corporal Mandy Edwards said that wildlife could be a potential danger to hikers this time of year.
“Bears are coming out of hibernation. It's also mating season,” she said, per the outlet.
Credit: rcmp
“Hopefully she's encountered some people along the way who may recognize her from the photo that was released,” Edwards continued, noting that Williams had been on a trip through Canada's eastern provinces.
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RCMP urges anyone who may have encountered Williams in or around Cape Breton Highlands National Park to contact Inverness County District RCMP at 902-258-2213.
Callers can remain anonymous by calling Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips app.
