Family Found Suitcase in Rented Cabin — Inside Was Woman Missing for 14 Years in Alaska

In the frozen heart of Alaska, where the wilderness stretches for thousands of kilometers and silence reigns, a family’s winter fishing trip turned into a nightmare that would haunt them forever.

On January 14th, 2023, David Thornton lifted the creaky floorboards beneath the bed of their rented cabin, expecting to find insulation or perhaps a mouse nest. Instead, his eyes landed on a battered metal suitcase, its surface wrapped in layers of old electrical tape and dust. The cabin, perched 12 km from McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park—the largest national park in America—was supposed to be their escape. But what lay beneath the floor would unravel a mystery 14 years old.

The Discovery

David called his wife, Sarah, and together they dragged the heavy suitcase into the light. When they cut the tape and opened it, David recoiled in horror. Inside was a human skeleton, contorted unnaturally, dressed in scraps of dark clothing, with a lock of hair still attached to the skull. Next to the remains lay an old GPS navigator and a fragment of a tourist map.

Sarah screamed and fled with their children. David, shaking, called Alaska State Police on his satellite phone. Detective Marcus Holloway and forensic scientist Jennifer Park arrived five hours later, crossing snowy roads by snowmobile. The suitcase’s contents told a chilling story—this was no recent crime. The body had been here for years, hidden in the depths of Alaska’s wilderness.

The Identity Revealed

Forensic analysis began immediately. Dr. Elizabeth Chen in Anchorage determined the remains belonged to a woman, aged 25-30, about 165 cm tall. Dental records and DNA confirmed her identity: Carolyn Mace, a 27-year-old from Minnesota who vanished in August 2009 during a solo hike in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Carolyn was a passionate ecologist and seasoned hiker. That summer, she had set out to fulfill her dream—an eight-day trek from McCarthy to the Ruth Glacier. She was last seen by park rangers on August 9th, 2009, signing the visitor log and heading out alone. When she didn’t return, a massive search began. Helicopters, dogs, and volunteers combed the wilderness, but the only clue was a broken bracelet found near a stream. After weeks, the search was called off, and her disappearance was ruled an accident—most believed she’d fallen into a glacier crevasse.

Her parents, Thomas and Margaret Mace, never accepted this. For years, they searched and hoped, refusing to let go.

The Truth Unfolds

Finding Carolyn’s body in a suitcase shattered the accident theory. Detective Holloway reopened the case, now a homicide. The cabin belonged to Clayton McGregor, a local who had rented it out for years. But in August 2009, when Carolyn disappeared, McGregor was visiting his daughter in Fairbanks—confirmed by airline records. Someone else had used the cabin.

Attention turned to those Carolyn met before vanishing. Jake Harrison, a local guide, had helped her plan her route. He was cleared—his alibi was solid. But Jake’s uncle, Milo Shelton, was a different story. A reclusive geologist with a violent past, Milo lived just 2 km from McGregor’s cabin. In 2010, Milo himself disappeared and was never found.

Investigators searched Milo’s abandoned house and found a makeshift cell: metal rings in the walls, a chain with handcuffs, and an old mattress. DNA from the mattress matched Carolyn. Another hair sample matched Milo’s family. The evidence painted a grim picture—Carolyn had been kidnapped, held captive, and likely killed in Milo’s basement.

After her death, Milo placed her body in a metal suitcase, wrapped it in tape, and hid it under the floor of the neighboring cabin while its owner was away.

The Final Chapter

But what happened to Milo Shelton? In 2020, a decomposed body was found near the Copper River. DNA confirmed it was Milo, dead from a gunshot wound—murdered, not suicide. The killer was never identified.

Jake Harrison denied any involvement, and no evidence linked him to either crime. The case was closed in June 2024. Alaska State Police announced that Carolyn Mace had been kidnapped and murdered by Milo Shelton, who was now dead.

Carolyn’s parents finally received answers after 14 years of torment. They cremated her remains and scattered her ashes in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, where a memorial plaque now sits on the trail to Ruth Glacier: “In memory of Carolyn Mace, 1982–2009, who loved nature and died following her dream.”

The Legacy

Carolyn’s story shocked Alaska and the nation. The park tightened its rules for solo hikers, requiring detailed itineraries and daily check-ins. Her life and tragic end became the subject of the award-winning documentary “Lost in Alaska,” and her family established a foundation for missing persons and hiker safety.

The cabin was demolished, its land left to heal. Local folklore now warns that Alaska’s wild beauty hides not only natural dangers, but also human evil. The Thornton family, who found the suitcase, will never forget what they saw. “We just wanted to go fishing,” David told the Anchorage Daily News, “but instead, we found someone’s grave.”

Carolyn Mace’s story is a chilling reminder: in the wildest places, danger can come not just from nature, but from those who hide in its shadows. For 14 years, her fate was buried beneath the floor—until a family lifted the boards and brought her home.