Cold Case

Maya Voss

Age: 38

Younger sister of the Victim.

Occupation: Librarian, archivist, or data.

Personality: Quiet, determined, observant

Has spent twelve years collecting every article, witness statement, and rumor about her sister's disappearance.

Keeps Elara's case file in several binders organized by date.

Doesn't trust the police anymore.
Still wears a replica of Elara's compass necklace.

Maya Voss:
Elara's younger sister.
25 years old at the time of Elara's disappearance.
Never believed the official story.
Has spent the last twelve years collecting evidence.
Receives the missing journal in the mail 3days before you got the case, it holds a photograph dated three days after Elara's disappearance.

A note that simply says:
"You looked in the wrong place."

"Everyone Remembers It Differently"
After 12 years, witness statements don't match.

The Past:
What actually happened?
Who was lying?
What clues were missed?

The Present:
Why is the case reopening now?
Who is nervous about it?
Who wants the truth buried?

Physical Description for Witness Reports:
Female, 29, approximately 1.68m tall, athletic build. Short brown hair, hazel eyes, freckles. Last seen wearing a dark green jacket, hiking boots, jeans, and a silver compass pendant.

Creepy detail:
The last photograph on Elara's camera shows an empty forest road at dusk.
When the image is digitally enhanced, a single figure appears standing between the trees.
No one knows who it is.

The Missing Time:
Elara vanished on October 14th.

3 Years later investigators discover:
Her bank card was used on October 17th.
CCTV footage was erased.
Nobody can prove who made the purchase.

Evidence Found- Confirmed:
Camera recovered
Backpack recovered
Journal missing
Vehicle locked
No signs of struggle

Strange Details:
Camera memory card had been removed
A photograph was found inside the glove compartment

Nobody recognizes the person in the photo
Elara's phone made one final call lasting 14 seconds
The recipient denies ever answering

Name: Elara Voss
Age at Disappearance: 29

Occupation: Wildlife photographer and local journalist

Status: Missing for 12 years, legally declared deceased after 7

Appearance: Hazel eyes
Short sandy-brown hair with lighter streaks
Freckles across nose and cheeks
Usually wore practical outdoor clothing
Silver compass necklace (never recovered)
Personality
Friendly but stubborn
Curious to a fault
Couldn't leave a mystery alone
Kept detailed journals
Known for helping people without expecting anything back
Background
Elara grew up in a small mountain town where everyone knew everyone else's business.
Twelve years ago she was investigating a story involving:
Missing town records
Property ownership disputes
Several unexplained disappearances from decades earlier
She told friends she was "close to finding something."
Three days later she vanished.
Her vehicle was found abandoned near an old forestry road.
No body was ever recovered.

Small lumber milling town that developed between a Mount Doran and a Pine Creek River, a tributary of Trembleur Lake, in the 1800's. Population around 25000

Police station:
Small local police station with strong community ties. Most of the officers and staff having grown up in the town.