A hiking trip in New Jersey ended in tragedy after an 87-year-old woman was found dead and her 77-year-old friend was rescued alive following an extensive search at Pyramid Mountain.
Virginia Taetzch, 87, and John Higgins, 77, were reported missing after they failed to return from a hike in the Pyramid Mountain area near Boonton.
The Montville Township Police Department asked the public for help finding the pair on Tuesday, Sept. 1, describing them as “at risk” missing persons.
Police later revealed that the search began after the Morris County Sheriff’s Office found an unattended vehicle in the Pyramid Mountain parking lot on the evening of Monday, Aug. 31.
Authorities searched the surrounding area in an effort to find the vehicle’s owner and later determined that Higgins and Taetzch had gone hiking at Pyramid Mountain at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
A more extensive search was launched Tuesday involving more than 30 officers.
At around 11:40 a.m., search crews found Higgins alive.
He was removed from the park and taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Authorities have not released details about his condition or what he endured while missing.
Search teams continued looking for Taetzch and later found her in the park.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have not released details about exactly where she was found or what caused her death.
Montville Township Police Chief Andrew Caggiano praised the large-scale rescue effort.
“This was a tremendous effort by the men and women of multiple Morris County Law Enforcement agencies,” Caggiano said.
He added that the coordination and determination of the officers involved helped save Higgins’ life and offered condolences to Taetzch’s family.
The search involved multiple agencies, including the Montville Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Kinnelon Police Department and Montville Fire Department.
Higgins and Taetzch were friends who both lived at the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community in Pompton Plains, according to WCBS.
The senior living community released a statement mourning Taetzch’s death.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Virginia [Taetzch], a cherished member of our Cedar Crest community,” a spokesperson said.
The statement added that the community’s thoughts were with her family, friends and everyone who knew her, saying the loss was being felt deeply throughout Cedar Crest.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office later announced that a death investigation had been launched.
Authorities said there was no indication of foul play or suspicious activity connected to Taetzch’s death and no known threat to the public.
Officials have not said why the two hikers became stranded, whether they became separated during the trip or how long Higgins had been alone before he was found.
Taetzch’s official cause and manner of death have also not been released.
The investigation remains ongoing.
