Walmart Worker Found Dead in Forest Hammock Two Months After Vanishing
(Cleburne County Sheriffs Department )
Two months after disappearing on a planned hiking trip, the body of missing Walmart employee Vendula “Wendy” Rose was discovered in a secluded Alabama forest, ending an exhaustive search that spanned multiple states.
On November 30, a hunter found Rose’s body in a hammock tied between trees, approximately five miles from where her silver Honda had been abandoned. Rose, an avid hiker originally from Ohio, was last seen alive on September 24 at a store in Oxford, Alabama, about 60 miles from Birmingham.
According to police reports cited by The U.S. Sun, Rose left Ohio on September 20, traveled to Alabama, and then briefly drove to South Carolina before returning to Alabama. Days later, she was seen in Oxford, though authorities have not disclosed what she purchased or the exact location.
Rose had previously mentioned plans for a hiking trip and reportedly took unusual steps beforehand. She left money at a bank, dropped off her work keys with her employer, and failed to return to work, triggering alarm among her colleagues and family.
Her disappearance prompted a missing person’s report on October 4, two days after she was supposed to return home. An extensive search effort was launched, involving aviation units, K9 teams, and horseback squads. Despite these efforts, Rose remained missing for weeks.
It was not until the hunter stumbled across her body in a “rough and secluded” area of the forest that authorities were able to locate her. The site was described as being far off the beaten trails near Cheaha State Park, where Rose had reportedly planned to hike.
Investigators discovered “abnormal” notes in her abandoned vehicle along with a box of ammunition missing seven rounds, according to The Columbus Dispatch. However, police do not suspect foul play in her death, told WIAT-TV.
Her family, who had set up a Facebook group to assist in the search, confirmed Rose’s identity last week through dental records. The official cause of death has not yet been released, and authorities remain uncertain if sufficient DNA evidence exists to determine exactly what happened.
Adam Downs, the Cleburne County Coroner, expressed hope that the discovery would bring some comfort to Rose’s family. Her sister-in-law, Sarah, wrote on Facebook, “Although this was not the outcome we were hoping for, we realize that having closure was a blessing.”
While the investigation continues, the tragic discovery marks the end of a mysterious disappearance that left Rose’s family and community searching for answers for months.
