St. Louis County Police have stopped the search today, May 24, for Carol Schulte, 72, of Ballwin, who went missing near the Al Foster Memorial Trailhead in Wildwood.
She was last seen Monday morning, May 23, near the trail at 225 Grand Ave., and was still missing at about 1:30 today, when the police called off their search, authorities reported.
The search party, which included police officers and members of a local hiking group, started looking for Schulte at about 8:30 a.m.
While the police have stopped searching, Carol’s stepson Tim Schulte, the pastor at The River at Eureka, said he and volunteers are keeping the search going.
“I think for the last two days, I've been running on adrenaline and still in shock,” he said.
Tim said his stepmom often walked the trail.
“Sometimes twice a week depending on the weather; it was one of her favorite places,” he said. “She is an avid hiker, biker and kayaker.”
Carol is a bus driver for the Rockwood School District.
Tim said his father, Len Schulte, became worried Monday when Carol did not return home at her usual time at about 9 a.m.
Detectives continue to investigate Schulte’s disappearance, Sgt. Tracy Panus said.
Schulte is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 128 pounds, St. Louis County Police reported.
A Facebook group called Tails on the Trails-STL organized a search for Schulte this morning. The group said Schulte’s phone was pinged near the trailhead at about 6:50 a.m. Monday before it went dead with the location feature turned off.
The post said Schulte’s car was in a parking lot near the trailhead on Monday afternoon.
Tim said Carol and Len celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday.
Tim asks anyone with information to call 911.