Tragic end in search for 24-year-old mom who went missing in Idaho

Published: 06:25, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 06:27, 20 July 2026 After months of searching in Idaho, officials confirmed they have found the remains of a 24-year-old mother. Chantal Williams was last seen on December 12, 2025 walking in the area of Marble Creek in Shoshone County wearing a blanket, according to officials. It was confirmed by the Spokane Medical Examiner that the skeletal remains found by a kayaker on the St. Joe River on July 5 belong to Williams, as cited by People. When the mother from Deer Park, Washington first went missing, officials said she may have been experiencing a mental health crisis. A search was launched utilizing resources such as dive teams, canine units, and drones. However, on December 18, officials announced that the search was called off. 'Unfortunately, at this time the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office has exhausted all of their resources, and the search has been called off,' officials wrote. 'The Williams family has been notified, and they took the time to express their gratitude and appreciation for all the help they received from so many agencies.' Chantal Williams, 24, was last seen on December 12,2025 walking in the area of Marble Creek in Shoshone County, Idaho wearing a blanket  The Spokane Medical Examiner confirmed that the skeletal remains found by a kayaker on the St. Joe River on July 5 belong to Williams When the kayaker discovered the mother's remains in a shallow lagoon, he believed the bones were from an animal before paddling closer and realizing they were human, according to the Shoshone News-Press. In a now-deleted GoFundMe launched by Williams' brother, and cited by People, he noted that Williams was a single mother of two children. The sibling also wrote that her car was found on St. Joe River Road. The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office also confirmed the remains were Williams' in a statement on Facebook on Saturday. The sheriff's office said the identification was made by the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office through a comparison of dental records. 'On behalf of the men and women of the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, we extend our deepest condolences to Chantal's family and loved ones,' reads SCSO's statement. 'While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, we are grateful that we were able to provide answers and bring a measure of closure to her family.' 'We also want to thank the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office, the Shoshone County Coroner's Office, Search and Rescue personnel, and our law enforcement partners for their professionalism, dedication, and assistance throughout this investigation.' When the mother from Deer Park, Washington first went missing, officials said she may have been experiencing a mental health crisis (St. Joe River pictured) The kayaker, who discovered the mother's remains, initially believed the skeletal remains they found in a shallow lagoon, were from an animal before paddling closer and realizing they were human, according to the Shoshone News-Press (Marble Creek pictured) In another harrowing case, the search for a California mother-of-two who went missing has entered its second week. Angelica Brophy, 44, an emergency room nurse from Oceanside, was last seen dropping off her daughter at a local camp on July 6, but she never returned later that day. Footage showed Brophy leaving the Harrah's Resort Southern California Casino at around 3.30pm, before a parking slip placed her at Palomar Mountain State Park about 50 minutes later.