A Connecticut woman went missing 2 years ago on hike in Japan. Her remains have been found
A Connecticut woman went missing 2 years ago on hike in Japan. Her remains have been found Patricia Wu-Murad was on a pilgrimage when she went missing on April 10, 2023. She was last seen in Totsukawa, 70 miles southeast of Osaka, and planned to hike the Kumano Kodo trail.
The remains of a Connecticut woman have been found after she went missing while hiking in Japan two years ago, her family confirmed on social media.
Family members of 60-year-old Patricia Wu-Murad, or Pattie, as her family called her, found out about the discovery on May 9. Her husband, Kirk Murad, announced the news over the weekend.
Wu-Murad went missing on April 10, 2023, and had last been seen at the Mandokoro guesthouse in Totsukawa, about 70 miles southeast of Osaka. Wu-Murad was planning to take the Kumano Kodo trail, an ancient pilgrimage route, according to her husband, Kirk Murad.
Some of Wu-Murad's personal items were found over a year later in September 2024, and the search for her included American and Japanese search and rescue experts, U.S. Embassy officials in both Japan and Washington D.C., and the FBI.
Then on April 27, 2025, a member of the U.S. search team returned to the area where Wu-Murad's backpack was found, according to Kirk Murad. The team member found multiple personal items of hers, as well as what he thought was a femur. He took the remains to Japanese police, and DNA testing later confirmed the remains were Wu-Murad's, her husband said.
'It offers a measure of closure, but many questions remain unanswered, including the exact circumstances and cause of Pattie's death,' Kirk Murad wrote online.
Personal items were found over a year after woman went missing
Wu-Murad set out to hike the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan in April 2023, according to a GoFundMe her family started to raise money for the search. People have made the pilgrimage to Kumano for over 1,000 years, according to the local tourism bureau.
The Kumano Kodo is a network of routes that stretch across the Kii Peninsula.
On Sept. 15, 2024, over a year after Wu-Murad went missing, a fisherman in Totsukawa village found her backpack in a stream, according to her husband. The fisherman found the backpack closer to a different trail than the one she was believed to be hiking on, Kirk Murad wrote.
Inside the backpack, the fisherman found a ziploc bag with the woman's email address and her family's home address. He reported the find to the Gojo Police Station and the next day, on Sept. 16, 2024, police retrieved the backpack and stored it.
'The backpack was mostly empty with the exception of the (ziploc) bag and gravel,' her husband wrote.
Police later found a shoe in a stream northeast of the guesthouse where she was last seen. Over the next few days, more items were found and family members were able to confirm they belonged to Wu-Murad, Kirk Murad said.
'This gave us hope that Pattie would finally be found,' Murad shared in October. 'However, since then, no more clues have surfaced, and we're back to being frustrated. We know this has been difficult for many of you, as Pattie touched so many lives.'
Efforts to find Pattie since her disappearance
Multiple Facebook groups have been made to support the search for Wu-Murad, including Help Find Pattie.
Her daughter, Murphy Murad, also started GoFundMe to raise funds for the search. As of May 19, the fundraiser has accumulated over $202,000 in donations.
Since then, her family has flown to Japan to work with local volunteers and rescue specialists from the U.S. According to her family, telecommunication companies couldn't track the E-sim in her phone because she did not have a Japanese number.
The case went cold until recently, and as her husband reflected on his frustrations with the lack of answers the family received, he thought of what his wife would say.
'I can imagine her (gently) smacking me in the head, and saying, 'snap out of it!' meaning, keep on moving forward,' he wrote in October. 'That's what we're all trying to do.'
Hiker was husband's 'wife and best friend'
Wu-Murad's husband spoke to Japanese news outlet Nara Shimbun in April 2023. The outlet reported that she was Taiwanese and worked as an engineer before retiring in 2020. She was on a pilgrimage and had previously completed one in Spain.
Murad said said online that she was his 'wife and best friend.'
Now, the family must work to bring her remains to the U.S., he said on May 17.
Wu-Murad was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2022 when she came across a documentary crew. She just so happened to start a conversation with a crew member, her daughter shared on social media.
In a clip shared online, she called herself a planner and said she typically liked to know what's going to happen 'every step of the way.'
'Going to Camino, last time and this time, it has taught me that you have different life experience when you're more flexible,' she said during her interview. "You're open to new experience, new people, new everything.'
She recalled befriending a young Ukranian woman a year earlier.
"I think of her, " she said. "I think of how lucky I am that I am afforded to live a good life, to do the Camino. Their suffering ... I feel it. I do feel that it's my obligation to think of them and wish them well, and just thank God that I'm here."
Her daughter wrote a note to her in the GoFundMe description, lovingly calling her 'Mama.'
'In a time of chaos, thank you for reigniting everyone's faith in humanity,' she wrote to her mother. 'Thank you for bringing us together with such incredible people, you have shown us the true essence of why you love these trips so much.'
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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Aubreigh H., 9th Grade, New Hudson Paytyn E., 9th Grade, South Lyon Lucia H., 11th Grade, Augusta Minnesota Natalie S., 3rd Grade, Waverly Mississippi Chloe A., 11th Grade, Corinth Kinley P., 11th Grade, Corinth Camden L., 12th Grade, Corinth Jayden T., 12th Grade, Corinth Madison G., 12th Grade, Corinth Missouri Jase S., 5th Grade, Preston Jody B., 7th Grade, St. Clair Montana Ethan K., 5th Grade, Belt Nevada Ian K., 10th Grade, Las Vegas New Jersey Ximena L., 5th Grade, Linwood Christopher M., 6th Grade, Florham Park Madison S., 8th Grade, Flanders New Mexico Alejandro G., 11th Grade, Albuquerque New York Kenneth Z., 4th Grade, Walden Ava A., 5th Grade, Rifton Aviana S., 5th Grade, Walden Anmo G., 6th Grade, Manlius Sabine S., 12th Grade, Goshen North Carolina McKenzy G., 6th Grade, Kinston Brianna G., 12th Grade, Wilson North Dakota Korri C., 10th Grade, Drake Northern Mariana Islands Taemin P., 11th Grade, Saipan Ohio Aria H., 5th Grade, Springboro Oklahoma Miles S., 5th Grade, 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View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT: press@
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America250 Announces 2025 America's Field Trip Awardees: Celebrating Students Across the Nation
WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--America250, the official national organization charged by Congress with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, today proudly announced the 2025 'America's Field Trip' awardees. America's Field Trip is a nationwide contest inviting students in grades 3–12 to reflect on the question: 'What does America mean to you?' The 150 America's Field Trip awardees hail from 41 states and 4 U.S. territories and were selected by a panel of current and former educators. Thousands of students from all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia submitted writing and artwork to the 2024-2025 America's Field Trip contest. The seventy-five first-place awardees will embark on immersive, unforgettable field trips to iconic American historical and cultural sites this summer, with seventy-five second-place awardees each receiving a $500 cash award. This marks the second group of America's Field Trip awardees recognized by America250 and follows the successful pilot program launched in 2024. 'America's Field Trip is a transformative opportunity for students across the country to engage with our nation's history in meaningful, lasting ways," said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. 'Our tentpole programs are intentionally designed to be hands-on, educational and engaging. America's Field Trip truly brings the story of America to life and allows a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to experience American history and national treasures up-close.' Each first-place awardee will choose one of the following specially-curated experiences: Private tours of Boston Revolutionary War sites, including the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, and Bunker Hill Monument Behind-the-scenes tour of the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and sleepover at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC Exclusive visits to two Washington, DC, institutions: a trip into the National Archives Vault and private tour of the Smithsonian's National Zoo Exclusive tour of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, and visit to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC Walking tour of historic Lower Manhattan and a performance and opportunity to meet the company of HAMILTON in New York CityStorytelling, history, and commemoration under the stars at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Private tours of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the International African American Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina Exclusive tours of the Alamo in San Antonio and the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas Backstage tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio Beyond the ropes tour of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Guided visit to Angel Island Immigration Station and candlelight tour of Fort Point at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California Private guided tour of Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming Ranger-led hikes and tours of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado Private tour of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida The 2024-2025 contest was made possible through the support of Founding Sponsor BNY Mellon and educational partner Discovery Education. 'We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of this year's awardees,' said Jayee Koffey, Chief Enablement and Global Affairs Officer at BNY. 'The creativity and passion of these students encapsulates the future spirit of our nation. As BNY continues to support America's 250th anniversary celebrations, we are proud to cheer on the future leaders of America.' For a full list of awardees and a selection of winning submissions, please visit First Place Awardees Alabama Jaid S., 9th Grade, Helena Ava H., 12th Grade, Madison Arizona Samarthya S., 3rd Grade, Chandler Arkansas Katherine Q., 12th Grade, Nashville California Melanie G., 4th Grade, Rancho Cordova Mirabelle G., 4th Grade, Pasadena Aadya K., 5th Grade, San Jose Emelynn M., 5th Grade, Temecula Parker S., 5th Grade, Murrieta Sharon X., 5th Grade, Arcadia Sophia C., 6th Grade, San Diego Mason M., 7th Grade, Los Angeles David K., 8th Grade, Manhattan Beach Evelyn B., 10th Grade, Sacramento Agnes Q., 12th Grade, South San Francisco Colorado Justin Y., 4th Grade, Denver Annie S., 7th Grade, Thornton Ava S., 7th Grade, Colorado Springs Yufan L., 11th Grade, Colorado Springs Delaware Grace S., 9th Grade, Milton Vivian W., 10th Grade, Hockessin Florida Abigail C., 3rd Grade, Ponte Vedra Angel G., 4th Grade, Saint Augustine Singita C., 8th Grade, Palm Beach Gardens Georgia Corrina T., 7th Grade, Winterville Josiah C., 12th Grade, Lithonia Guam Yaxin L., 9th Grade, Dededo Idaho Tonya H., 6th Grade, Orofino Haley H., 8th Grade, Orofino Kanghyeon B., 8th Grade, Meridian Illinois Olivia H., 6th Grade, Aurora Margot K., 11th Grade, Northbrook Jack J., 12th Grade, Elgin Kansas Eleanor P., 5th Grade, Eastborough Kentucky Daanya R., 8th Grade, Lexington Louisiana Emory D., 3rd Grade, Madisonville Nicholas N., 6th Grade, Metairie Auralia S., 12th Grade, Barksdale Air Force Base Massachusetts Freya H., 4th Grade, Boston Johan C., 8th Grade, Weston Saachi M., 11th Grade, Hingham Mississippi Benjamin P., 11th Grade, Corinth Brianna H., 11th Grade, Corinth Missouri Austin F., 8th Grade, Weldon Spring New Jersey Arjun K. , 5th Grade, Towaco Nikita D., 5th Grade, Marlboro Jayden A., 7th Grade, South Amboy Anish G., 8th Grade, Basking Ridge Yuna J., 8th Grade, Moorestown Megan W., 12th Grade, Westfield Parinita C., 12th Grade, Bridgewater New York Asia S., 7th Grade, Rifton Eric B., 7th Grade, Rifton Hannah B., 11th Grade, Chester North Carolina Zadie B. , 4th Grade, Charlotte Kahlan V., 6th Grade, Hickory Annie B., 8th Grade, Fayetteville Northern Mariana Islands Aileen K., 5th Grade, Tamuning Ohio Eva H., 5th Grade, Pataskala Pennsylvania Santino W., 4th Grade, McMurray Toluwanimi F., 4th Grade, Philadelphia Clara C. , 5th Grade, Fogelsville Regan S., 7th Grade, Pittsburgh Tennessee Leslie C., 12th Grade, Antioch Texas Mia L., 3rd Grade, Arlington Rehanika D., 4th Grade, Northlake Liam B., 5th Grade, Houston Emil M., 8th Grade, Houston Lydia I., 8th Grade, San Antonio Atharva E., 9th Grade, Wylie U.S. Virgin Islands Mirza B., 11th Grade, St. Thomas Virginia Aggie J., 4th Grade, Roanoke Gloria A., 11th Grade, Midlothian Simone H., 11th Grade, Haymarket West Virginia Juliann H., 10th Grade, Elkins Second Place Awardees American Samoa Janae R., 5th Grade, Pago Pago Fiao'o L., 11th Grade, Pago Pago Arizona Colton Z., 5th Grade, Mesa Joanna H., 8th Grade, Chandler Arkansas Joah S., 8th Grade, Altus California Jackson W., 4th Grade, Hayward Giovanni B., 6th Grade, Upland Ian C., 7th Grade, Sylmar Colorado Grace H., 5th Grade, Colorado Springs Elizabeth A., 7th Grade, Colorado Springs Lucy L., 11th Grade, Colorado Springs Connecticut Miriam M., 6th Grade, Westport Saige M., 12th Grade, Haddam Florida Savannah T., 4th Grade, Land O' Lakes Madison R., 7th Grade, Lutz Jessenia T., 11th Grade, Homestead Hawaii Peyton H., 8th Grade, Ewa Beach Illinois Maia S., 10th Grade, Belleville Indiana Jacob K., 5th Grade, Fishers Kayla B., 10th Grade, Indianapolis Kansas Emerald R., 5th Grade, Wichita Emma S., 5th Grade, St. Johns Louisiana Princeton H., 3rd Grade, Shreveport Luke B., 4th Grade, Lockport Paris N., 7th Grade, Gretna Weston W., 9th Grade, Franklinton Addison B., 12th Grade, Shreveport Lily W., 12th Grade, Monroe Maryland Rachel K., 4th Grade, Ellicott City Charlotte L., 8th Grade, Crofton Massachusetts Katherine C., 11th Grade, Hingham Michigan Aubreigh H., 9th Grade, New Hudson Paytyn E., 9th Grade, South Lyon Lucia H., 11th Grade, Augusta Minnesota Natalie S., 3rd Grade, Waverly Mississippi Chloe A., 11th Grade, Corinth Kinley P., 11th Grade, Corinth Camden L., 12th Grade, Corinth Jayden T., 12th Grade, Corinth Madison G., 12th Grade, Corinth Missouri Jase S., 5th Grade, Preston Jody B., 7th Grade, St. Clair Montana Ethan K., 5th Grade, Belt Nevada Ian K., 10th Grade, Las Vegas New Jersey Ximena L., 5th Grade, Linwood Christopher M., 6th Grade, Florham Park Madison S., 8th Grade, Flanders New Mexico Alejandro G., 11th Grade, Albuquerque New York Kenneth Z., 4th Grade, Walden Ava A., 5th Grade, Rifton Aviana S., 5th Grade, Walden Anmo G., 6th Grade, Manlius Sabine S., 12th Grade, Goshen North Carolina McKenzy G., 6th Grade, Kinston Brianna G., 12th Grade, Wilson North Dakota Korri C., 10th Grade, Drake Northern Mariana Islands Taemin P., 11th Grade, Saipan Ohio Aria H., 5th Grade, Springboro Oklahoma Miles S., 5th Grade, 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