Vendula Rose Obituary, Death; – A body discovered in the woods over the weekend near Cheaha State Park has been confirmed as Vendula Rose, a hiker who had been missing for nearly three months.
On Thursday, Cleburne County Coroner Adam Downs reported that the remains found deep in the woods along Hwy. 281, close to the Talladega National Forest, belonged to Rose, who had been unaccounted for for several months.
“While this is not the outcome the family hoped for, we sincerely wish that it will provide them with the closure they need,” Downs stated. “Let us all come together in prayer for the family as they grieve the loss of their cherished mother, wife, daughter, and sister.”
During a press conference earlier this week regarding the body’s discovery, Downs mentioned that his office was awaiting the arrival of Rose’s dental records from her residence in Ohio to facilitate a more definitive identification.
Rose, originally from the Czech Republic and a resident of the United States for over two decades, had departed from her home in Marysville, Ohio, in late September to embark on a hiking trip in Alabama. On September 24, her vehicle was found abandoned at the Pinhoti Trail Head within the park. For months, her family and friends conducted extensive searches for her.
On Saturday, a hunter stumbled upon a campsite approximately half a mile off Hwy. 281, about five miles from where Rose’s car was located. The hunter also found a body in a hammock, with identification cards belonging to Rose found nearby.
Given the duration of Rose’s absence in the wilderness, the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether sufficient DNA evidence exists to ascertain the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing, and laboratory tests are still awaited.
“I commend the diligent efforts of Coroner Downs and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in confirming this information for the family,” stated Cleburne County Sheriff Jon Daniel. “My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Rose’s family and friends as they navigate this profound loss. I urge everyone who has followed this case to join in support.”
