SEATTLE — A Coast Guard helicopter from Port Angeles was part of an extensive search-and-rescue operation Wednesday that failed to locate a Bellevue woman who was last seen aboard the Bainbridge Island-bound ferry Puyallup.
A helicopter was dispatched from Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles after the woman was reported missing late Tuesday.
“They were out last night searching for two hours, and again at first light,” said Thomas Brown, a civilian employee with the Port Angeles Coast Guard station.
The missing woman, Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz, 45, reportedly bought a ticket for the 10:55 p.m. sailing from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Trent Cain told The Associated Press.
When the ferry arrived at the dock, Stafford-Yilmaz’s van was waiting in line, but she was not found.
Her purse, keys and identification were discovered on an upper deck, Cain said.
The Coast Guard suspended its search at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“We have saturated the search area and have not located anyone,” said Michael Long, chief of response for Coast Guard Sector Seattle, in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.”
Stafford-Yilmaz is about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She’s a noted English as a Second Language teacher at Bellevue Community College who has taught all over the world and has authored and co-written 11 books, according to KOMO-TV in Seattle.
The State Patrol, which is conducting the missing persons investigation, issued a memo Wednesday evening saying it had no more information.
The State Patrol and the Coast Guard are seeking assistance from the public.
“A detective has been assigned to the case and is treating it as a missing person at this time,” Cain told The Seattle Times.
“We have no confirmation that anybody went overboard, but we have no confirmation that she exited the ferry by foot.”
Investigators said there are no signs of foul play.
Vehicles ‘frequently’ left
“Quite frequently vehicles are left on the ferries,” Cain told the Times.
“She could have gotten off the ferry with another vehicle.”
A rescue boat from Coast Guard Sector Seattle led the marine phase of the search. The Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Harbor Patrol and the Bainbridge Island Marine Unit also contributed.
The Coast Guard coordinated with the Washington State Patrol and Washington State Ferries to map out the search plan.
“I would like to thank all of our partner agencies for an extremely quick response to our request for assistance,” Long said.
The Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles has three helicopters at its base on Ediz Hook.
The next-closest air station is in Astoria, Ore., Thomas said.
There were four crew members aboard the Port Angeles helicopter during the two-hour searches — a pilot, co-pilot, rescue swimmer and flight mechanic, Brown said.
Anyone with information about the missing woman is asked to call State Patrol Detective Dave Killeen at 360-405-6650.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
