The Boots Left on the Trail: Why Linda Never Came Home

The Boots Left on the Trail: Why Linda Never Came Home A pair of hiking boots, double-knotted and upright with mismatched socks tucked inside, were found in damp March leaves seventy yards east of the Ardmore trailhead on March 9, 2014 - but Linda Ann Cooper's body was never found. Who took Linda's boots from her car, carried them to that unpaved lot, and left them as a deliberate marker? In this episode, we lay out the timeline, the witnesses, and the clues from the day Linda disappeared, following Sergeant Sherry Rice's first impressions and the small, concrete details that made neighbors and investigators realize this was not a routine missing hiker case. How did three separate sightings and one familiar pair of boots reshape the search for Linda? Person: Linda Ann Cooper Date: March 8-9, 2014 Location: Ardmore Creek trailhead / unpaved lot, Kellerton Status: Missing, no body recovered Investigator: Sergeant Sherry Rice - Linda was 54 years old and lived at 12 Harlan Street in Kellerton with her husband Frank. - She left home at approximately 2:00 PM on March 8, 2014; her phone last connected to the east-side cell tower at 2:17 PM. - Linda normally drove three miles to the Ardmore Creek trailhead and completed a four-mile out-and-back connector to Harmon Bridge, returning by 4:30 PM for six years. - At 7:52 AM on March 9, 2014, Paula Stinson found the double-knotted boots seventy yards east of the trailhead and called 9-1-1. - Frank identified the boots by heel wear and Linda’s inked name on the insole; the boots had been left in the CR-V earlier because they caused a blister. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].