Missing woman was likely alone when she went paddleboarding on Hungry Horse Reservoir, Sheriff says

Based on cell phone data, nearby security cameras and the location of her vehicle, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said Emily Rea was likely alone when she put her paddleboard into the Hungry Horse Reservoir at the Riverside Boat Launch sometime after 8:30 p.m. July 16.

Rea has been missing ever since and the search for her body continues. Heino said searchers have spent more than 1,800 hours looking for her. 

Rea, 33, is 5-feet 5-inches tall with brown hair. She was a teacher at a local private school. 

Rea’s paddleboard was found upside down in the Flossy Creek area, more than two miles west of the Riverside Boat Launch, on the evening of July 17. Weather reports show a westerly wind on the reservoir the night of the 16th, consistent with the paddleboard's location. Her paddle was found stowed and assembled on the board. Her cell phone was not with the board and last pinged on a tower reachable on the South Fork Road between Martin City and the Riverside Boat Launch, with the time of the ping consistent with her travel from the last security camera sighting to the Riverside Boat Launch. 

Her vehicle was found at the Riverside parking lot as well, about 21 miles up the South Fork off the East Side Road. The Sheriff's Office has deployed multiple Search and Rescue units, including K9 teams, boat teams equipped with sonar and underwater robots, ground teams, Two Bear Air, drone teams, divers, and more. The Sheriff’s Office has ave also received assistance from the U.S .Forest Service, Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Glacier National Park, and several other agencies and independent resources.