June 4, 2025

MDIFW NEWS: UPDATED: Baxter State Park Rangers Lead Search For Missing Father and Daughter Last Seen Near Summit of Katahdin

For More Information, Please Contact Kevin Adam, Baxter State Park Director, kevin.adam@baxterstatepark.org. This release is sent on behalf of Baxter State Park by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

UPDATE It is with deep regret that we share the news that today, at approximately 1:00 p.m. (June 4), search teams discovered the body of Esther Keiderling off the Tablelands, in a wooded area between two known trails. More details regarding the search will be provided later this afternoon after searchers return to the base area. Thank you for your understanding.

BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine - Searchers are once again scouring the top of Mount Katahdin today looking for clues to the location of Esther Keiderling, who had gone missing Sunday while hiking near the summit of Mount Katahdin with her father Tim Keiderling.

Crews are already searching Mount Katahdin both on the ground and from the air. Searchers began early this morning with helicopters, and ground searchers began their search at approximately 8:00 a.m. Search efforts will concentrate on the Tablelands and trails and streams that are located on the East side of the Mountain.

Currently there are 25 Game Wardens, 4 game warden K9 teams, and 21 Baxter State Park Rangers searching the Mountain. Maine Forest Service Helicopters and Maine Army Guard Helicopters are also assisting in the search and with transporting crews to the summit. This allows searchers to maximize their time searching high probability areas.

Yesterday, Maine Game Warden Chad Robertson and his K9 Strom located Mr. Keiderling deceased on the Tablelands area of Mount Katahdin. Search Crews immediately repositioned search resources into the area in an attempt to locate Esther. Searchers found no clues yesterday that have lead to the location of Esther.

Yesterday's search included 25 Maine Game Wardens, 7 K9 teams, 15 Maine Association of Search and Rescue Volunteers (MASAR) and 25 Baxter State Park Rangers for ground search efforts.

The Maine Forest Service was essential yesterday with their three helicopters, searching for the missing hikers, and also providing transport services for searchers, ferrying them from the base of Maines tallest mountain up to the summit area. The Maine Army National guard and their helicopters also assisted with the transportation of searchers, and searching trails, streams and the Tablelands from the air.

Last night, Tuesday evening, the Maine Army National Guard utilized a Lokota helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging device (FLIR unit) to search from early evening well into the night with no traces of Esther Keiderling detected.