This story has been updated.
Kentucky resident, Marites “Tess” Buenafe, 62, was found dead on Thursday afternoon below the ridge line of Gold Ridge, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Alaska State Troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue recovered her body with the assistance of Temsco Helicopters and an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew. Her body was located approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line.
Alaska Wildlife Troopers were notified about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday that Buenafe was missing. She was last seen departing Mount Roberts Tramway at 7:30 a.m. that morning after informing her family that she was getting off the Norwegian Bliss to hike alone from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak. Buenafe did not return to the cruise ship before its departure at 1:30 p.m.
AWT Helo 5 and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter conducted aerial searches of the area. The Juneau Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and Southeast Alaska Dogs for Organized Ground Search conducted a search and rescue operation.
Her next of kin have been notified, and her body will be sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage for autopsy.
• Contact Natalie Buttner at natalie.buttner@juneauempire.com. Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz.garrett@juneauempire.com or (907) 723-9356.
Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot)
Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot)
