Coventry Police: Final Update on Missing Hiker Patti Pendleton's Death

COVENTRY, RI — Patti Pendleton's two dogs led the state environmental police to her body Sunday afternoon, according to the state Dean Hoxsie, chief of the state Department of Environmental Management's law enforcement division.

Pendleton, 59, went hiking in the Arcadia Management Area with her two dogs, a black toy poodle and a black fox terrier. She was last heard from Monday, when she called relatives. The family reported her missing when she did not appear at work on Tuesday, and Coventry police, the DEM and an army of volunteers searched for her combing more than 4,200 acres on the ground.

The official search was suspended Friday at 5 p.m., but Pendleton's son Mike continued looking for her. Despite cautions from police due to the arrival of shotgun hunting season Saturday, dozens of volunteers joined him on Saturday and Sunday.

Hoxsie said DEM officers with help from hikers found her body around 1 p.m. The dogs' barking alerted hikers and then they followed the pets, who led them to Pendleton.

"Mrs. Pendleton was found in thick brush where she apparently had sought shelter overnight Monday – after veering off the marked, yellow trail in Arcadia," Hoxsie said. "Though the search had been suspended, our officers continued searching throughout the weekend and were in the area when the hikers made their report. Our officers were able to respond quickly, locate the dogs, and follow them through the brush to find Mrs. Pendleton."

Coventry police asked people to respect the family's privacy at this difficult time.

"While we take comfort in bringing closure to the family in this case," Hoxsie said, "this is a tragedy and very sad outcome. It was a difficult search with extremely rugged terrain, and we cannot thank the hundreds of volunteers and emergency responders enough who worked tirelessly for six full days to return Mrs. Pendleton to her family.”

Mike Pendleton organized the continuing search on his Facebook page. He said his mother never gave up on him and he wouldn't give up on her.

The following agencies were involved in the search:

The Rhode Island State Police; DEM DLE; Coventry Police Department; West Warwick Police Department; West Warwick/Coventry Regional SWAT Team; Western Coventry Fire Department; DEM Forestry Division; Exeter Fire and Rescue; Connecticut Environmental Police; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, Disaster Medical Assistance Team; Rhode Island Task Force 2 Search and Rescue Team; Rhode Island Emergency Management; the Rhode Island Army National Guard’s 126th Aviation Battalion; and the Rhode Island State Helicopter. The Special Signal Fire Association Providence Canteen supported first responders and volunteers throughout the search.

Friends on Sunday started a Go Fund Me page to raise money.