S2E10 - Lost in the Woods: The Disappearance of Hailey Athay

Hailey Athay went into the woods for a simple day of mushroom picking — and never came home.

In this episode, we break down the known timeline of Hailey’s disappearance, the location where she was last seen, and the search efforts that followed. What should have been an ordinary outing turned into a haunting mystery that still demands answers.

We walk through the facts, the unanswered questions, and the challenges that arise in wilderness disappearances. But this episode is more than a case summary — it’s also about advocacy. We discuss the growing call for increased attention, awareness, and media coverage surrounding Hailey’s case, and why keeping her name in the public conversation matters.

When someone vanishes in the woods, the clock starts ticking. But when public attention fades, families are left fighting for visibility. Tonight, we bring Hailey’s story back into focus.

As with all cases, all parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Music License - DLUP3HNXOB6M4DZK, A0IJ8Y4ULJO6FIWE

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

In Tragedy, a true crime podcast, we discuss missing persons cases, violent crime, and other sensitive topics that may be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Our show is a place where every story matters and every voice deserves to be heard. To support this podcast, you can subscribe at www.tragedy a true crime podcast.com for early access to new episodes. And join our Facebook community, Tragedy, a True Crime Podcast, for updates, discussions, and ways to support the families we feature. Welcome to Tragedy, a True Crime Podcast. I'm Elisa.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

And I'm Michael.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

And we're proud to welcome Sleep in Heavenly Peace as a new partner sponsor of the podcast. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national volunteer-driven nonprofit with one powerful mission. No kid sleeps on the floor in our town. With more than 400 chapters across the United States, they build and deliver handmade beds complete with mattresses and bedding to children who don't have one of their own. In 2025, Sleep in Heavenly Peace reached a milestone. 86,744 beds delivered to children in need nationwide. Right here at home, the Tallahassee chapter delivered 836 beds in 2025 alone. And since 2018, nearly 3,900 beds have been placed into homes in our community. We are honored to align with an organization, Changing Lives, One Bed at a Time. To learn more or get involved, visit shpbeds.org.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

So Elise, you want to kind of describe the experience?

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Yeah. So what happens with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, at least in the Tallahassee chapter, is they get all of their lumber donated from Lowe's. And it's an assembly line kind of process. Anybody can go. You just go to the website shpbeds.org, sign up for their next build, and they will train you right there on the spot. It goes all the way from lumber to the end where the bed pieces are not put together, but they are built and then go out for delivery.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Yeah, and one thing I was really impressed with is how efficient the process is. I mean, you know, just like you said, they start one end, it's lumber, all the way in, it's all the parts ready to assemble. They don't assemble them there in the, in this case, it was a parking lot that we were in because they've obviously thought about getting these beds in and out of houses. And so they but they're ready to go. They're they have they they have a stamp or logo they put on, they burn right onto the wood. And you just join the assembly line. And you know when we were there, we were actually in the spot where we were putting the headboards and footboards together. And everything's marked. You just, you know, you you become part of the cog and the wheel that's putting all this together. And I was just really impressed with how efficient it was. We were there for about what four hours. And in those four hours, I think that day we made 40 beds. There's also more than just building. You know, the there was uh opportunities to deliver beds, and from what we heard from the volunteers, that is actually the part that's almost the most fun. You get to see the looks on these people's faces whenever you deliver something to them that they've never had before because they're getting a new bed, they're getting new blankets, they're getting a full sheet and pillow set. I mean, this is ready to go, and it's it's just really a great cause and something that we're we were really excited to be part of.

SPEAKER_00 3:32

Yeah, those delivery folks take the bed and all those things that you just mentioned, and they put it together wherever it is going to be in that child's home. So when they leave, the bed is built, the sheets are on, and it is ready to go. Today we begin a new case: a disappearance that leaves more questions than answers, a timeline with gaps, and a family still searching for clarity. In this episode, we'll walk through what is known, what remains unclear, and why this case deserves renewed attention. In November 2024, communication with 33-year-old Kaylee Athey abruptly stopped. At first, the silence may not have immediately triggered alarm. Adults live independently, phones die, travel happens, days can pass without constant contact. But as November moved into December and December into the new year, the absence became more concerning. Haley was reportedly last seen in November 2024 with another individual. The two were said to be going mushroom picking in a wooded area of Washington state. After that outing, there has been no publicly confirmed sighting of her. In January 2025, roughly two months after her last known contact, Haley was formally reported missing. That time gap is one of the most significant aspects of this case. In any missing person investigation, the timeline defines everything. A delay between last contact and formal reporting can narrow investigative windows. Surveillance systems overwrite data. Location pings become harder to retrieve. Weather alters landscapes. In Washington state, late fall brings rain, dropping temperatures, and early nightfall. All factors that complicate search and recovery efforts. Mushroom picking, especially in the Pacific Northwest, is common during fall months, but it typically takes place in dense forest terrain. Trails may be unmarked. Cell service is often limited or non existent. Visibility can drop quickly under tree cover, especially near dusk. Navigation errors in these environments are not uncommon, even for experienced outdoors people. Investigators would begin by reconstructing the November timeline. Who was Haley with? What specific forested area were they visiting? Was there a known trailhead? Did anyone else see them enter or exit the area? Was a vehicle located, and if so, where? The individual reportedly last seen with Haley would likely have been interviewed as part of standard procedure. Digital records, phone data, text history, GPS movement, and possible app usage would become central to verifying movements and timestamps. There are several investigative paths that would need to be examined. An accidental fall or injury in remote terrain, becoming lost and succumbing to exposure, a medical emergency while in the woods, or the possibility of third-party involvement. As of now, there has been no public announcement of arrests or confirmed criminal charges in connection with her disappearance. Search operations in wooded environments are methodical but challenging. They may include ground grid searches, aerial reconnaissance, canine units, and terrain modeling. However, environmental conditions between November and January, rainfall, wildlife activity, leaf drop, and soil saturation can significantly alter physical evidence or obscure trace indicators. Another critical element is digital footprint. In modern cases, investigators often rely heavily on phone location data, device movement patterns, and transaction history. A sudden stop in digital activity can either suggest device disablement, environmental loss, intentional shutdown, or something more concerning. The January 2025 Missing Person Report marks the formal start of documented law enforcement involvement, but the most important window remains November 2024. Key unanswered questions include: What was Haley's final confirmed message and to whom was it sent? Has her phone ever reconnected to a network after that date? Was the mushroom picking location precisely identified and searched? Did the individual she was with return alone? And what timeline did they provide? Were search warrants executed for devices, vehicles, or property? Because the investigation remains open, certain records have been withheld under Washington state law as they could interfere with active investigative efforts, and that can limit what is publicly known, even as the case continues behind the scenes. What remains clear is this. Haley's contact stopped in November 2024. She was reportedly last seen going mushroom picking with another person. She was reported missing in January of 2025. There has been no confirmed public recovery and no announced arrests. In wilderness-related disappearances, outcomes generally fall into defined categories: accident, exposure, medical event, voluntary absence, or criminal act. Determining which applies depends on evidence. Physical, digital, testimonial, and environmental. Right now, that determination has not been publicly made. For her family, the two-month silence represents more than a delay. It marks the unknown space where answers should exist. Somewhere between a November outing in the woods and a January missing persons report, Haley vanished from all confirmed contact. Until that timeline gap is resolved through evidence, discovery, or disclosure, the case remains open, and 33-year-old Haley Athy remains missing.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Um one question that I have right out of the gate is, you know, we have this person, you know, again, we're not gonna use names right now, but that you're telling me that went into the forest or went into the this area um and came out without her, and there's no explanation on why she's not with him coming out. Is that what you're saying?

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Yes, after speaking with several people um close to Haley, her friends and her family, it's our impression that there is some sort of security footage that was taken of Haley with two other people actually the that day that she went mushroom picking at a I believe it was a gas station. And then it is the story that is told is that she and one of those two people then went mushroom picking. And then this person who came out of the woods and you'll hear this from a lot of her friends and family, he said, quote, I lost her when he was questioned by local law authorities. So it's pretty clear he names that they went into the woods together, but he did come out alone and said that he lost her.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

I'm really curious what that means. How is law enforcement handling this case right now? I mean, do they suspect foul play? Is it just like a missing person case? I mean, what is do we know anything about their approach right now?

SPEAKER_00 11:38

So as always, I do request uh a FOIA, Freedom of Information Act. And in this case, it came back fairly quickly, within 48 hours with a resounding no. And I was not even allowed to appeal that because when the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office denies their FOIA, they also include the statute, which uh the grounds of which they are denying the FOIA, and they're just claiming that it's an open and active investigation. So I'm not able to see anything from any law enforcement paperwork about how they are handling it. We will hear from friends and family member about their experiences with law enforcement, but I don't have anything documented from law enforcement.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

Is there any evidence that we do have access to right now or any um anything that you know leads us to believe one direction or the other regarding foul play versus just you know leaving? Which you which you did indicate is one of the reasons it took a while to really understand Haley was missing is that she has uh she has a history of you know disappearing for a little while. So that's that's that's why there's been such a delay between when she went missing and when it was really reported she was missing.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

Yes. Currently in March of 2026, there is a case that is happening for the death of Nicole Lauer in the same area. And the person who is charged with her death is the same person who Haley was last seen with. So my sense would be that because he's already uns under suspicion for the death of one person, that law enforcement would be looking pretty closely at him since he was the last person to see Haley.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

What about other evidence? I mean, we're you know, we're gonna get into this in more detail as we start talking to Shasta, but uh there was a conversation about some belongings that were discovered.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

Yeah, Shasta tells us about I believe it was an iPad that belonged to Haley and maybe some clothes and some things that were found near an off-ramp by someone. And we have heard a couple of different stories about that, but what seems to have happened is that whomever was able to secure this iPad then was using it under Haley's profile to post some really awful things. Um and that people I think got excited because they thought maybe that was actually Haley posting until they figured out obviously the context of what was posted was not stuff that she would post.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

All right. Obviously, this is the the first episode of Haley's case, and we've already had had a number of interviews. Um you know, why don't you share with a lot of you share some of the details of who we're gonna be speaking with and how how we're gonna be approaching you know Haley's story.

SPEAKER_00 14:13

Yes, Haley has a big tribe behind her, and we were able to speak with her friend Shasta, who's been her main advocate during all of this. Um, her mom, Nicole, her sister Ashley, her friend Amanda, and her brother will also be speaking with us. And I will also reach out to the sheriff's office to see if the lead detective would like to come on or share any information with us. So if you have any information regarding Haley's disappearance, please contact Detective James Hanbury with the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office at 360-577-3092 and reference case A25-247.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

And one interesting sneak peek that you know we may be able to talk about when it comes to this case is a little bit of a blast of the past when we talked to some of our some of our contacts, specifically Kathy Decker, we've already reached out to, and she's very interested in this case. And you know, we're looking forward to any assistance she can provide.

SPEAKER_00 15:12

Yes, Kathy Decker came on our show with Iris and we spoke with her and with Douglas McGregor, the GO profiler, and I recalled that Kathy lives in the Pacific Northwest. So I reached out to her, and of course, she has some very significant contacts with search agencies and things in that area. So we will be reconnecting with her to see how she can support us as we support Haley's family.

SPEAKER_01 15:33

All right. Well, I'm looking forward to this story, and I'm looking forward to getting this, getting the word out and seeing what we can do from our perspective to help.

SPEAKER_00 15:43

You've been listening to Tragedy, a true crime podcast. Our purpose is to honor victims by sharing their stories through the voices of friends, family, and those whose lives were forever changed. If today's episode resonated with you, we encourage you to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast so these important stories continue to be heard. Together, we can preserve their memories and ensure their voices are never forgotten. If you have ideas for cases we should cover or questions about what you heard, you can connect with us through our Facebook group, Tragedy a True Crime Podcast, on X at Tragedy Podcast, by email at TragedyAtrue Crime Podcast at gmail.com, or by visiting our website www.tragedy a true crime podcast.com. Thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time.