Search team locates body of missing St. Clair County woman in Huron National Forest, Oscoda County

The body of a St. Clair County woman missing since Wednesday was located Sunday around 1 p.m. in Big Creek Township, Oscoda County.

Karen Adams, 77, of Kimball, was last seen around 1:40 p.m. May 3 when she left a family member’s residence, located on Schmallers Road in Loud Township (Montmorency County), driving a silver 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.

A family member, who said Adams lived with dementia, reported her missing to the Montmorency County Sheriff’s Office, prompting the search Wednesday.

Saturday around noon, a group of off-road vehicle riders located Adams’ vehicle south of Mio, in Oscoda County, and contacted Oscoda County Central Dispatch.

After being informed about the vehicle, Michigan Conservation Officer Casey Pullum and two Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene. The vehicle was stuck on Snowmobile Trail LP 968 in the Huron National Forest, north of the Deyarmond Valley Road and Union Corners Road intersection. When initial responders were unable to find Adams within close proximity to the vehicle, a larger search with Michigan State Police Canine Units and a helicopter was initiated.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division coordinated the search into Saturday night and early Sunday morning with assistance from numerous agencies. The search was suspended for a short time due to inclement weather Sunday; ground crews resumed searching by late morning.

A ground search crew located Adams, deceased, less than a mile from her vehicle. Exposure to the elements is believed to be the cause of death but has not been confirmed at the time of this news release. No foul play is suspected.

The DNR would like to thank the following agencies for assisting: Michigan State Police, United States Forest Service, Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office, Montmorency County Sheriff’s Office, Tri Town Fire Department, American Red Cross, Alpena County Search and Rescue, search members from Oakland County, and Community Emergency Response Teams from Oscoda, Ogemaw, Lapeer, Roscommon and Crawford Counties.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state law enforcement officers who receive specialized search and rescue training. Conservation officers provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety, and protect people by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.