Ashley Phillips, 30, disappeared during a hike in Costa Rica on Wednesday, June 3. The California native is believed to have encountered a devastating storm along the trail, and her whereabouts remained a mystery ever since. After weeks without answers in what her family described as their “worst nightmare,” the search may have reached a tragic conclusion, as Costa Rican authorities reportedly discovered a body along the hiking route.
Initially, there was no confirmation that the body found in a river in Barú de Pérez Zeledón was actually Phillips’. According to the California Post, the family was taking some solace in the possibility of finally bringing her home. Earlier in the search, Costa Rican authorities had already warned that they believed Phillips’ disappearance was likely the result of a “water-related accident.”
