An Ohio mother was found dead inside a hammock after vanishing two months prior during a camping trip in Alabama.
The Alabama Department of Forensic Science has verified that the body discovered by a hunter in Talladega National Forest on November 30 belonged to Vendula Wendy Rose, aged 41.
Vendula Wendy Rose, who worked at Walmart and was a native of the Czech Republic, went on a camping trip alone on September 20. However, her failure to return home to Marysville by October 2 caused concern among her friends and family.
Prior to her departure, Rose informed her family and friends that she was going hiking. She mentioned that she would be leaving some personal items in a safe deposit box at her bank and had entrusted her work keys to her employer.
According to a timeline released by the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department, Rose made it from Ohio to Alabama that same day – about a 10 hour drive – where she ‘hiked that portion of the Pinhoti Trail’ located in the Dugger Mountain area of Cleburne and Calhoun County.
Three days later she made her way to South Carolina before driving back to Alabama late the following day, where camera footage captured her ‘making a purchase at a business’ before exiting alone in Oxford.
She was reported missing on October 4 after failing to show up for work, as police located her car at the Pinhoti Trail Head, where ‘an immediate search of the park was conducted,’ including the use of K9 teams, multiple law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and rescue squads.
Although authorities did not locate her remains until about a month later, they did search her vehicle, which contained ‘multiple notes that were deemed as abnormal for Rose unless she was having a mental health crisis,’ as well as a ‘magazine’ and ‘a box of ammunition missing seven rounds’.
On Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Forensic Science confirmed the deceased body found in Talladega National Forest on November 30 by a hunter belonged to Vendula Wendy Rose, 41
Rose had set off for a solo camping trip on September 30, but when she failed to come home on October 2, her loved ones grew worried. (Pictured: The hammock she was found in)
Rose’s cause of death has not yet been released, but at the time police said they had ‘no evidence that would lead us to believe that there is any foul play suspected in this case,’ adding that they think she was ‘suffering a mental health crisis’.
Her loved ones quickly set out to help find Rose after she went missing back in October, as a ‘Missing Wendy Rose’ Facebook page was made.
Her daughter, Dana Rose, posted constant updates about the status of her mother from the very start.
On October 7 Dana posted several pictures of Rose and said: ‘This is my mom. She’s stubborn, frustrating, innovative, smart, silly, and, in true motherly fashion, one of the most important people in my life.
‘She is missing from me in the Talladega forest area, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t travel to the Appalachian Trail area. PLEASE if you see her or know anything, call your local police department and give them information about Vendula Rose,’ Dana said, adding ‘i love you mom, and i hope you’re safe.’
As the weeks went on with no answers, Dana continued to post to the page in hopes of finding her mother alive.
Rose was a mother to her daughter Dana, as the pair shared a passion for flying planes. (Pictured: Rose with her husband David and their daughter David)
By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, just days before her mother’s body was found, Dana shared her sadness of not celebrating the holiday together.
‘Happy thanksgiving, everyone. This year, my dining room table will be empty. there will be no bramborová kaše, no turkey breast, no steamed vegetables or stuffing.
‘The quiet absence of my mom will echo off my walls. the memories of years past will haunt me in my home while I make pierogi dough with only my kitties for company,’ her heartbroken daughter wrote.
Despite hoping that she and her mother would come together next year to cook for the holiday, three days later Dana shared that her mother’s remains were found.
‘I miss you more than words describe. the pain in my heart only grows with every minute without you,’ she wrote.
The mother and daughter shared a passion for flying planes as Rose became a pilot in 2016, with Dana later following in her footsteps as a flight instructor at Bowling Green State University.
Dana previously told WIAT that Rose was more than a mother, saying: ‘You can’t put her in a box.’
Rose’s cause of death has not yet been released, but police said they have ‘no evidence that would lead us to believe that there is any foul play suspected in this case,’ adding that they think she was ‘suffering a mental health crisis’
Rose’s coworkers also reacted to the tragic news of her death, as one of them, Cindy Taylor Sheldon, set up a memorial for her inside the Walmart store they worked at together
Rose, who often went by ‘Wendy’ was born in the small Czech Republic town of Kolin before moving to the United States in 2001 at the age of 18 after meeting her husband David while he visited Prague.
‘He got lost and asked her for directions, and then he asked if she wanted to go dance with him. From there they fell in love,’ Dana shared with the outlet.
Other than working security at Walmart, Rose kept busy with multiple jobs and pastimes, including training dogs, writing poetry, working as a mechanic, test driving cars, and riding horses.
Dana added that her mother really thrived in nature and ‘always talked about living in a cabin.’
She also noted that more than anything, she will always remember her mother’s big heart as she recalled Rose giving a homeless man food while hiking in Zaleski State Forest in September.
Sarah Rose, who said she was Rose’s sister-in-law, took to Facebook to share the devastating discovery as well.
‘It is with great sadness that we report that Wendy was found deceased today. Although this was not the outcome we were hoping for we realize that having closure is a blessing.
Rose, who often went by ‘Wendy’ was born in the small Czech Republic town of Kolin before moving to the United States in 2001 at the age of 18 after meeting her husband David while he visited Prague
‘We want to thank the hunter that found her and immediately reported it so that she could be recovered. We also want to thank the hiking and general community for how they all pulled together to look for her and the words of support we got throughout this process,’ Sarah said.
Rose’s coworkers also reacted to the tragic news of her death, as one of them, Cindy Taylor Sheldon, set up a memorial for her inside the Walmart store they worked at together.
‘I set this up at the Marysville Walmart where Wendy was employed. Wendy actually made the wire trees and they’re just beautiful on display. We’re all blessed to have known her!,’ Sheldon said.
Several frames with Rose’s pictures, a candle and two wire trees that she made were left on a small table in memory of her.
Sheriff Jon Daniel with the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department thanked everyone who helped find Rose, adding that he will keep her family in his prayers.
‘I would like to ask each of you who have watched this case and shared the updates along the way to continue to pray for this family as well,’ Daniel added.
DailyMail.com contacted the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department, the Alabama Department of Forensic Science and Walmart for comment.
