Body of woman missing two years found in reservoir

The body of Rachael A. Walsh, who was last seen Aug. 16, 2008, has been found by Elmore County Sheriff's Officer personnel in the Fall Creek area of Anderson Ranch Reservoir.

Authorities never gave up their search for Walsh, who, along with her car, a Red 2005 Dodge Neon four-door, disappeared from a campsite at Fall Creek Lodge that year.

Walsh, a postal employee from Boise, had been staying for the weekend in a camper at a site near the lodge. When she did not return home to go to work that week, she was reported missing. Authorities found her camper, but no sign of foul play. She and her car were both missing. She was 48 years old at the time of her disappearance.

Rachel Walsh

In the nearly two years since she had gone missing, her family and law enforcement agencies put out several calls for help in finding her, asking in particular for hunters to keep an eye out for her or her car.

Sunday, ECSO Deputy Laytreda Schultz went back to the Fall Creek area with Gene Ralston, a professional who twice before had helped authorities search the reservoir with his side-scan sonar. The search this time turned up a possible vehicle in the water. Scuba divers from the Minidoka County Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue Team, Capt. Dan Kindig, Aaron Endres and Steve Copmann, were called in and found Walsh's car and what was believed to be her body in it. The vehicle and body were removed from the reservoir Monday.

The body has been taken to Ada County for a forensic autopsy and final confirmation that the remains found are those of Walsh.