Family of missing woman critical of search efforts

CATALDO — The family of a woman who was missing for four days before she was found was critical of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office for ending its ground search after less than 24 hours. 

“I really have nothing nice to say about their search efforts,” Brooke Killebrew said. “I believe this whole situation was handled badly. I’m just thankful that my mom is a complete badass.”   

Linda Kent, 62, was found Thursday evening by a Kootenai County man on his ranch near 14000 Tamarack Ridge Road, roughly 8 miles from where she went missing.   

Kent was transported to Kootenai Health, where she was treated for her injuries and severe dehydration.

The Smelterville woman, who suffers from dementia, was fishing with her family at the Cataldo Boat Launch on Sunday night but wandered off after saying she needed to use the restroom.   

Her family searched for roughly 20 minutes before contacting law enforcement.   

The KCSO handled the initial search efforts but called them off Monday evening. 

Kent’s family was thrilled to hear that she was found alive, but they have strong feelings and several questions about the search and rescue efforts.   

“If they (KCSO) had brought in specific scent dogs they probably would’ve found her,” Killebrew said. “Plus, we believe that if they had spent a full 24 hours searching for her instead of 15 hours, they would’ve found her.”   

According to Killebrew, her mother had no idea she was missing, but she believed she was at Killebrew’s home in Montana. 

KCSO Lt. Zach Sifford said the search wasn’t called off too early. He said KCSO deployed many resources for the search, including cadaver dogs and K-9 units, ground teams, volunteers, a helicopter and drones, infrared imaging and marine units that searched the Coeur d’Alene River. 

“We had multiple facets looking for Linda,” he said Friday. 

Despite those efforts, Sifford said they found no signs of Kent. There were no clues, evidence or leads to indicate she was ever there or which direction she might have gone. 

“It was difficult to really prove she was in the area,” he said. 

He said in most similar cases where a person is lost or missing, searchers find something, perhaps a piece of clothing, wrappers, footprints or trampled brush, but there was nothing to reflect Kent was in the area. 

He said the KCSO was frustrated it couldn’t find Kent. 

“It’s always a difficult decision when the sheriff’s office stops a search prior to finding anyone,” Sifford said.  

He said the family had also told KCSO they believed Kent may have walked to Interstate 90, which was nearby, and hitchhiked to her husband, who was in Montana. 

Sifford said based on information they had at the time, with no signs of Kent and having extensively combed the surrounding area, they ended the search. 

“They just didn’t have anything more to explore,” Sifford said. 

While the ground search was called off, Sifford said two detectives remained assigned to the case and taking any calls or tips. KCSO was ready to respond quickly if information about Kent came in. 

“We were still actively involved in the case,” Sifford said. 

He said KCSO will review the case, how it was handled and the outcome, He said it will continue with its methodology for search and rescue operations. 

“It's proven to be very successful,” Sifford said.