IDAHO COUNTY --Authorities in northern Idaho havesuspended the search for a hiker missing since last month after hunters found the man's dog.
Todd Hofflander's family confirmedSaturday that searchers have found Ruby, the family's black lab. Ruby was with Hofflander when he went missing in Hells Canyon. Searchers had hoped that if anyone found the dog, it would help lead them to Hofflander.
The 39-year-old Riggins man and his dog went missing while hiking with a friend in the Windy Saddle area on Sept. 27. Having problems with his knee, Hofflander split from his hiking partner and agreed to meet up later. When he did not meet at the appointed location, his friend went looking for him before contacting authorities.
Authorities had called off the search for him, but his family remains hopeful that Hofflander, an experienced outdoors man, is alive somewhere in the woods. His wife Julie hopes finding the family dog might get a search back on track.
On Saturday, Julie Hofflander went into the woods with her husband's brother and a sheriff's deputy. They took the recently-found Ruby, hoping she'd lead them to the missing hiker.
We were hoping that she would kind of lead us to Todd, Julie Hofflander said. Kind of a Lassie deal, but she didn't. So I don't know. I don't know why, but she didn't. Ruby was with Hofflander on a hiking trip with friends.
Ruby was found on Friday when someone noticed the lab scampering out of the woods.
They brought [Ruby] down to the lodge in town, and my kids and I were there. It was her. She looked really good. She was thirsty and tired, but she looked really good, Hofflander said.
While finding Ruby is an exciting development to Hofflander's family,it's also a cryptic clue, leaving even more questions.
It's hard because no one knows exactly where Ruby came out. She was just found on the road up there. No one saw the direction that she was coming from, Julie Hofflander said.
The Idaho County sheriff says Ruby was found on the opposite side of the Seven Devils mountain range from where Todd Hofflander was last seen.
I'm still hopeful. As my friend says, until there's other evidence, we have to remain hopeful, Hofflander said. She said her husband's friends and brother plan to take the dog back to the place Todd Hofflander was last seen, hoping she might be able to lead them in the right direction.
Todd Hofflander was last seen wearing jeans, a green t-shirt, blue baseball hat and a camouflage backpack. The family and authorities are asking everyone to keep an eye out for Hofflander and call local authorities with any information.
