During the JC and CC podcast on 2/6 (at about the 22.09 point) JC mentions Evelyn Howe (not Theresa Coen or Susan Nilsson who have been referred to numerous times here, and have no connection with this present case per LE). According to reports, in May of 2013 Evelyn Howe along with David Machado drowned somewhere in the same area where Abbie may have taken a walk. Evelyn apparently had a favorite place where she liked to hike around the Eastern Point Retreat House. Evelyn, David and his wife Kristen, had gone for a walk on a path near the water and it seems David slipped on the rocks as the tide was sweeping in and pounding the shore. He was swept away. David struggled to get out of the water to no avail, and Evelyn dove in after him. She was also swept into the water. Kristin tried to extend her leg so David could reach it, but the rocks were too slippery and a massive wave quickly rolled in and David disappeared from sight. According to reports, shortly after 5:00 p.m. Kristen called police to Brace Cove. The Coast Guard and a Gloucester Police boat were launched within moments of the 911 call. At approximately 5:53 p.m. the two were found face down on the ocean floor not far from shore. Evelyn and David did not survive.
Also, in the podcast (at about the 22:44 point) JC says that it was mentioned by "K" that Abbie was known to regularly walk in the same or similar area where Evelyn and David drowned. I think there is a high probability, and entirely possible, that Abbie may have taken the same path or a similar path and had an accident somewhere between Bemo Ledge and the ledges off the Eastern Point Retreat House. Anywhere along there would have been a short walk from her house, and would afford beautiful views and a sunset. If she left for a quick walk she would (I think) want to get back to her house before dark and before her guests arrived at 6:00 p.m. Perhaps she stayed too long looking at the sunset and rushed to get back in the dark, or maybe she never got to see the sunset. Sunset was a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. with total darkness by 5:30 p.m. on that day, high tide was at 5:23 p.m., seas were 3-5 feet, winds probably 15-20 kts., water temperature 39 degrees. I have been to the rocky ledges off the Retreat House in summer when the ocean was calm. The rocky ledges down to the sea are impressive and formidable. Unfortunately, I think this scenario is the most likely, and is why there have been no further clues in her disappearance, and why she hasn't been found.
If Abbie did slip into the water sometime between 3:30-6:00 p.m., and LE was notified by her friends that she was missing at 7:00 p.m., then a number of hours would have passed before the search got underway, which according to CC was a couple of hours after they were notified at 7:00 p.m. There was a very thorough land search. Helicopters and aircraft, with the very best in thermal imaging and heat signature detection devices were used , and flew patterns over the water. Boats were deployed, but it was very difficult to get close to shore because of the seas (3-5 feet) at the time. The search went on until 3:30 a.m. and was resumed at 6:00 a.m. the next morning. Nothing was found. In the podcast (at about the 22:55 point) CC says that if she did go into the water it could explain why after 24 hours of using the very best in heat detecting equipment they were unable to pick up any heat signals at all.
Early in the morning 2/4, there was some activity with a GFD rescue boat searching Niles Pond. Nothing was found. The water search continued to be hindered by bad weather in the area practically the whole week after her disappearance. It was especially windy here for days and nights, and then some days were very foggy. Finally, it wasn't until 2/11 when the weather broke enough so LE crews were able to resume the water search and do a sonar scan of Brace Cove. On 2/11 and 2/12 they searched Brace Cove, Niles Pond, the Dog Bar breakwater, and along the seashore. Nothing was found. Ten days later on 2/13 we heard dive searches turned up no evidence.
It seems everyone who disappears here on Cape Ann ends up in the water. It may take some time for a body to be discovered. It depends on many factors such as currents, winds, tides, etc., and a body may be found miles from where it entered. The Martha Brailsford incident, which I referenced in an earlier post, is an example. In 1991 her body entered the water 2-3 miles off Gloucester. She had an anchor around her legs, and a weighted diver's belt around her waist. She eventually was found approximately a week later by a lobsterman pulling up a trap off Children's Island (formerly Cat Island) at the mouth of Marblehead Harbor. She was caught on the lobster trap. It was a miracle she was found.
