Search for Missing Woman With Alzheimer's Enters Second Week

A 79-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s remains missing after becoming separated from her group during a hike in Portola Valley.

Margaret Elaine McKinley pictured left / Search efforts pictured right

PORTOLA VALLEY– The search continues for Margaret "Elaine" McKinley, a 79-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s who went missing during a hike in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve on May 1. McKinley, a longtime Bay Area resident, was celebrating her partner’s 81st birthday when she became separated from their group.

According to family members, Elaine ran ahead along the Lost Trail and was last seen wearing a red zip-up jacket. She carried a small amount of water and an apple but did not have a phone. The terrain, which includes steep hills and thick vegetation, has complicated search efforts.

Elaine’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis adds urgency to the case, as her condition may impair her ability to navigate or call for help. Her family says she had no history of wandering prior to the hike. “I just keep thinking about what it would be like for her right now,” said her partner, Kit Durgin. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I cry all the time.”

More than 150 search and rescue personnel were initially deployed, including K-9 teams, drones, and off-road vehicles. The operation has since scaled down to a “limited continuous search phase,” which allows for ongoing but reduced search activity. As of May 6, there have been no confirmed sightings.

Volunteers from as far as Butte and Nevada counties joined local teams in combing over 14 miles of the rugged preserve. Despite the scale of the operation, the outcome remains uncertain.

Elaine’s family continues to hold onto hope. Her sister, Kelley McKinley, described Elaine as strong and resilient. “She’s incredibly humble, and she doesn’t like attention,” she said. “We just want to find her.”

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Margaret “Elaine” McKinley is urged to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Call 911 for emergencies or 650-363-4911 for non-emergencies

Updates will be posted as new details become available.