The Last Hike: The Vanishing of David and Jessica Palmer

Cascade Mountains, Washington State. Summer 2016.
David Palmer, 34, a successful software engineer, and his wife Jessica, 32, a beloved elementary school teacher, were expecting their first child. Jessica was six months pregnant when the couple decided to embark on one last hiking adventure before parenthood—a gentle two-day trek along the Timber Ridge Trail, renowned for its breathtaking views and moderate difficulty. Their social media overflowed with snapshots of mountain trails and happy moments; friends saw them as the perfect pair.

On July 15th, they packed their silver Toyota Highlander with camping gear, a topographic map, and a satellite communication device. After checking into the Mountain View Lodge in Pine Valley, they chatted with the desk clerk, Nancy Williams, about trail conditions and weather. Jessica was radiant in a blue maternity hiking shirt, and David was meticulous as always, highlighting their route on the map.

The next morning, witnesses saw them at the trailhead, adjusting backpacks and taking photos by the Timber Ridge sign. A park ranger, Tom Bradley, gave them safety tips and asked them to check in when they returned. They were expected back by 4:00 p.m. on July 17th.

But they never returned.

Their car remained untouched in the motel parking lot, the room key unreturned. Nancy called the sheriff’s office. At first, Sheriff Robert Kaine thought it was a routine delay—hikers often lingered for the views. But when their satellite device showed no activity, and calls went unanswered, concern escalated.

The Search: Hope Fades in the Wilderness

At dawn on July 18th, search teams combed the Timber Ridge Trail. Search dogs traced the couple’s scent for three miles, losing it near a creek swollen from recent rains. There, they found a granola bar wrapper—Jessica’s favorite brand.

Helicopters scanned the dense Douglas fir and cedar canopy, but the forest hid all signs. Volunteers expanded the search radius, examining every side trail, campsite, and ravine. The couple’s families arrived, coordinating media coverage and offering a $10,000 reward. David’s brother Michael and Jessica’s sister Linda spoke to reporters, emphasizing the couple’s caution and experience.

Despite hundreds of searchers, thermal imaging, and ground-penetrating radar, no further trace emerged. Their car was untouched, valuables left behind. After three weeks, the official search ended, but family and volunteers pressed on. As summer faded, hope waned. Winter snows made further searches impossible.

Theories and Despair: A Mystery Unsolved

Speculation swirled—had they wandered off-trail, suffered a medical emergency, or met with foul play? The silence from the satellite device was particularly baffling; David was known for his safety protocols. No one had seen them on the trail, even during peak season.

A memorial service was held in December, but the families never gave up. Michael Palmer founded a search and rescue foundation; Linda became an advocate for wilderness safety, especially for pregnant women.

A Break in the Case: The Old House

Spring 2017 brought renewed searches as the snow melted. Detective Sarah Brennan, an expert in wilderness disappearances, joined the investigation. She noticed the Timber Ridge Trail passed near several abandoned homesteads, including the long-vacant Garrett house.

An elderly local, Walter Hutchkins, recalled seeing smoke from the Garrett property and a strange pickup truck parked nearby during the summer of 2016—the same time the Palmers vanished.

Detective Brennan organized a search of the property. The house, isolated and decaying, stood on a forgotten logging road. The basement, accessed by a creaking staircase, showed signs of recent disturbance—dark, loose soil in one corner.

The Grim Discovery: Beneath the Floorboards

Ground-penetrating radar detected anomalies beneath the basement floor. Excavation revealed two sleeping bags, bound with rope, containing the remains of a man and a woman. Jessica’s turquoise bracelet and David’s wallet confirmed their identities. Jessica’s remains showed she was still carrying their unborn daughter.

The medical examiner found both victims had suffered blunt force trauma. David bore defensive wounds; Jessica had been struck from behind. The baby, a girl they planned to name Emma, died with her mother.

The revelation devastated the Pine Valley community. The couple hadn’t been lost in the wilderness—they’d been murdered and buried beneath an abandoned house.

The Hunt for the Killer

Detective Brennan focused on who might have accessed the Garrett property. Interviews revealed sightings of a dark blue Ford pickup with Oregon plates near the property on July 16th, 2016. Martha Hendris, a retired teacher, remembered the truck and its nervous, scarred driver.

Forensic evidence from the house—cigarette butts, food wrappers—yielded DNA that matched Curtis Blackwood, a 43-year-old military veteran with a history of assault and stalking. Blackwood was skilled in survival, familiar with the region, and had disappeared from his Oregon home around the time of the murders.

A nationwide manhunt began. Blackwood’s truck was found near Lake Crescent, containing maps, rope, and photos of hiking trails. He was tracked through the Olympic Peninsula wilderness, finally captured after a tense standoff near a mountain stream.

Justice and Aftermath

Curtis Blackwood was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, plus the murder of the unborn child. The evidence was overwhelming—DNA, fingerprints, witness testimony, and a pattern of targeting couples in remote areas.

During the trial, the brutality of the crime and the loss of three lives moved the courtroom to tears. Michael Palmer and Linda Thompson delivered powerful victim impact statements, remembering the joy and promise that David, Jessica, and Emma brought to their families.

Blackwood was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. The community mourned, but also changed—improving safety protocols, search and rescue resources, and building a memorial park at the site where the Palmers were found.

The David and Jessica Palmer Foundation now works to improve wilderness safety and rescue operations, ensuring their memory lives on in every hiker who ventures into the mountains.

The Cascade Mountains remain beautiful and wild, but the tragedy of the Palmers serves as a sobering reminder: even in nature’s serenity, darkness can intrude. Their story is a testament to love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of justice.