On Wednesday, December 4th, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter issued a news release stating that they were searching for the remains of Alicia Wood, aged 46, at the High Plains Landfill.
The Conrad Police Department received a missing person’s report on November 30th concerning Alicia Wood, a resident of Conrad, who was last seen on November 22nd.
The investigation directed authorities to the High Plains Landfill, situated several miles northeast of Great Falls, where the search commenced on Thursday, December 5th.
Lieutenant Jon Kadner of the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search efforts as the incident commander, while Sergeant Jake Tri is responsible for overseeing the ground investigation.
The Montana Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) serves as the lead agency, with agents supervising the search operations. The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with the DCI due to its responsibility for coroner duties within Cascade County. Should Alicia Wood be found deceased, the Sheriff’s Office will play a critical role in the investigation.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in the search for Alicia Wood. The Conrad Police Department was notified on December 2nd, that the Montana Highway Patrol had impounded Wood’s vehicle. Officers discovered blood inside and around the vehicle, which prompted them to seek assistance from the DCI.
Wood’s vehicle, a 2005 black Cadillac, was located on November 27th on Highway 91 between Brady and Conrad and was impounded. Preliminary investigations indicate that Wood is likely deceased, and it is suspected that her remains may be situated in the landfill, which has been designated as a crime scene.
The search operation is both resource-intensive and complex, involving a collaborative effort among multiple agencies. Additionally, a person of interest is reportedly in custody on an unrelated charge. The investigation remains ongoing, and there is no current estimate regarding the duration of the operation at the landfill. The search efforts will continue as expeditiously as safety protocols allow, taking into account health considerations and the volume of waste involved.
One week into the search for Alicia Wood, various agencies, organizations, and community members continue their collective efforts.
The Great Falls Police Department has been utilizing drones extensively throughout this operation to obtain aerial views that may reveal potential evidence. These drones are operated by certified pilots and have been provided by the Great Falls Police Community Foundation.
The coordination of mutual aid by the Montana State Police Officers Association (MSPOA), under the leadership of Jason Jarrett, has proven to be invaluable.
HL Ventures has been operating their excavator continuously, achieving rapid progress given the vastness of the search area. Les Payne and his team from Cascade County Public Works have also been active, running two front-end loaders daily, with additional support provided by a bulldozer from Republic Services. “We cannot express enough how grateful we are for the immense state-wide support we’re receiving,” explained Sheriff Slaughter.
If you have information about Alicia Wood, please contact DCI at (406) 444-3874.
Please continue to watch for further updates in The Great Falls Gazette as we gather more information.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
