Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Remains of Missing Storrs Hiker Pattie Wu-Murad Identified in Japan After Two Years

DNA testing confirms the remains found in Nara Prefecture belong to the experienced hiker, as her family begins the process of repatriation while questions about her death linger.

Image
(L): Photo of Patricia Wu-Murad from a GoFundMe page organizing rescue efforts. (R) Signpost indicating Kumano Kodo, Kumano Kodo hiking pilgrimage trail, Totsukawa Commune, Nara Prefecture in Totsukawa, Japan on 24th of august 2017.
Image

Overview

  • Pattie Wu-Murad, 60, disappeared on April 10, 2023, while hiking the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan's Nara Prefecture.
  • Her remains, including a femur, were discovered on April 27, 2025, near the site where her backpack and shoe were found in September 2024.
  • DNA testing confirmed the remains as Wu-Murad's, bringing partial closure to her family after over two years of searching.
  • The exact circumstances and cause of her death remain unknown, with speculation about her being on an unintended trail and environmental factors complicating answers.
  • Her family is now navigating international protocols to bring her remains back to the United States for a memorial service.