Search for missing San Mateo County woman ‘scaled down’ 

The search continues for an at-risk Redwood City woman who went missing two weeks ago, but resources are being “scaled down compared to the initial, more intense phase,” according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s office. Crews continue to look for her in a more limited capacity.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, 79, went missing May 1 at the 1,400-acre Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, six miles west of Los Altos Hills, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. McKinley, who is said to have Alzheimer's, was with her longtime partner and caregiver Kit Durgin, was wearing a red jacket, black pants, and a backpack, KGO-TV reported.

The two were hiking with a friend when Durgin, 81, and the friend lost sight of McKinley, Durgin told the local ABC-affiliated station, adding she is utilizing a psychic in her search.

(The B.A.R. reached out to KGO-TV to ask if the station had contact information for Durgin; the station’s assignment desk answered that they did not.)

Law enforcement and search teams were brought in from all over the state, including more than 500 specialized search and rescue volunteers. The sheriff’s office stated in a Facebook post May 12, however, that, “Unfortunately, despite exhaustive efforts and utilizing all available resources, there have been no confirmed sightings of Elaine.”

“Over the last several days, specially trained teams have continued to search for Elaine as part of the Limited Continuous Search phase,” the post continued. “This phase refers to a search operation that continues indefinitely or until the missing person is located, but with resources that are scaled down compared to the initial, more intense phase. Though the number of search and rescue teams have scaled back, our commitment to finding Elaine has not wavered.”

Sheriff’s office communications director Gretchen Spiker confirmed the search is ongoing as of May 14.

“Late last week and over the weekend, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue Unit (MSAR) and the San Mateo County Search and Rescue Unit (SMCSAR) assisted in the ongoing search for Elaine,” the May 12 post continued. “The Sheriff’s Office has also been utilizing drones and off-road motorcycles in addition to various ground searches. These search efforts will continue and we encourage anyone with possible sightings or information about Elaine’s whereabouts to please call 911."

The office is asking all residents who live near the preserve to check their cameras day and night, going back to May 1 at 10 a.m. Any sightings, or lack of sightings, on camera footage will aid in the search. They can be reported via an online form.