I lived in Jacksonville for 14 years. It is a very safe area. My first thought was that she ran up on the trails but a friend commented that she never runs on the trails. It sounds like she normally runs on the main roads that leave Jacksonville to the north or south. These are rural roads but there would be a decent amount of traffic passing by on a Friday morning. If she DID decide to run up on the trails for some reason, then she would be more isolated and there have been cougar and bear sightings in Jacksonville. The trail system is very well used and there are no really dangerous drop-offs. Many people run the trails solo, but I would never walk up there alone. I am probably a little on the paranoid side, but I just would never feel comfortable being up there by myself. There have never been any problems with crime in Jacksonville. It is an affluent area and a charming, historic town. However, it is not far from Medford - and Medford has a bad crime problem, especially with drugs and transients. My oldest daughter is exactly the same age and description as Ashley. She is also a runner. When she would visit us, she always took off through the woods for her run - and run down into town and back. I never felt completely comfortable with her running alone. But nothing like this ever happened in Jacksonville, until now. Praying for Ashley's safe return. Her poor family. If anyone has a question that I can answer (as a local) please feel free to ask me.
