Search for sailor centers in Canada
Published 8:00 am Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Oak Harbor police believe that a missing Navy woman is somewhere in Canada.
At 9:36 p.m., May 24, officials at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station reported that 31-year-old Lt. j.g. Jennifer Kincaid was missing. Even more worrisome, the EA-6B Prowler navigator didn’t show up for work with her squadron, VAQ 131, on the morning of Saturday, May 26.
Sgt. Jerry Baker with the Oak Harbor Police said Kincaid was last seen on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 22, by a neighbor at her NW Ensign Drive home.
Police searched her home and found her 2003 Kia Rio, with Florida plates W60-KMW, was missing, as were her hiking equipment and backpacks.
Baker said Kincaid is an avid camper and hiker who travels to many areas around the state.
“She did a lot of what we call car camping,” he said, “where you park a car and go on day hikes.”
Still, Kincaid’s friends, family and colleagues told police that it would be unusual for the dependable woman to take off without telling anyone.
Baker said he recently got a lead in the case from a border agent who said Kincaid crossed the border into Canada on May 23 at 5:08 p.m. The agent even remembered talking to Kincaid. She was alone, identified herself as a Navy officer and seemed fine.
Baker said Kincaid last used her debit card May 23 in Bellingham. Her car did not cross back into the U.S. The government keeps track of all the cars that cross the border.
The Oak Harbor police are working closely with Canadian authorities, who are searching for both Kincaid and her car.
It may take some time. “British Columbia is twice the size of Texas,” Baker said.
While the woman’s hiking background may offer a clue, Baker said he’s not jumping to any conclusions as to Kincaid’s whereabouts.
“We won’t know until we see her smiling face,” he said.
Kincaid is described as a white female, 5-foot-five, 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. Anyone with any information about her should call 360-279-4618 or 360-679-9567.
