OSO, Wash. — Snohomish County investigators set out to look for a husband and wife after their cars were spotted in the woods near Oso.
Married Arlington couple Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude were last seen on Monday. Their dogs and livestock were found unattended at their home, Shunn didn’t show up at work and family members sounded the alarm by filing missing persons reports.
PHOTOS: Missing couple, search scene
Snohomish County authorities said the circumstances of their disappearance are suspicious. A family member suggested that a land dispute with a neighbor could be connected. Police are not saying whether the neighbor has been contacted or has any connection to their disappearance.
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The couple’s vehicles, a Land Rover and a Jeep, were spotted from a sheriff’s office helicopter on Thursday, but there has been no sign of the couple.
Video from Chopper 7 Friday showed a Land Rover that had gone down an embankment. The second vehicle is believed to be nearby in the heavily-wooded vehicle. Investigators at the scene have set up tables as they collect possible evidence.
It is not yet known if they were able to search the vehicles or if they will need to be towed out first.
Meanwhile, the small community of Oso is planning a vigil for the couple Friday night. There's talk on social media that it will be happening at the Oso General Store, a place where friends of the couple have been stopping by to find out the latest news.
Susan Weiss said she just saw her friend, Monique Patenaude, at a fundraising event in Arlington a few weeks ago.
"She didn't mention (anything) about going on vacation or anything like that,” said Weiss, who provided KIIRO 7 with some recent pictures of the couple.
She says their disappearance Monday came as a shock.
"They are very loving, very good people. There is something very suspicious about this,” said Weiss.
Weiss, who's been stopping by the Oso General Store to sign up to volunteer for a search for the couple, says she had a bad feeling when she heard the crews found the two cars together.
"If they were going hiking or something, they would take one car, I would guess, and also, they would take the dog,” said Weiss.
Snohomish County deputies have not said when a larger search of the area might begin.
“Everybody is very worried and wants to help to do anything to locate them,” said Weiss.