Search efforts continue this summer for 34-year-old West Glacier resident Emily Rea after she went missing last July during a paddleboard excursion on Hungry Horse Reservoir. 

One year later, her friends and family have more questions than answers as they identify peculiarities in her case.  

Rea’s vehicle was found at the Riverside Boat Launch area on July 17, along with her paddleboard, which was discovered upside down in the Flossy Creek area more than 2 miles west of the boat launch with her paddle assembled and stowed. 

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has continued searching for Rea on the water — with thousands of hours searching with K-9 units, divers, volunteers and boat and ground teams last summer. The search also employed sonar, underwater robots, drones and a Two Bear Air helicopter.    

But those close to Rea want to take search efforts far beyond the cold, dark waters of the Hungry Horse Reservoir and initiate a private investigation of their own.   

“We need this investigation to go off the water, and we need to be open to the possibility that something criminal has happened to Emily, and we need to find it now,” Rea’s uncle Brian Sanders said in May, at a rally supporting their own search efforts.  

When Rea’s paddleboard was discovered, her carrying case was shoved into the bungee cords — something her mother Nina Rea said would typically be in her car. It’s one of many details they are hoping to look into by hiring their own private investigator. 

“I could not live with myself if I had not turned over every rock to see where those theories have led, and we're not capable of doing a full investigation. That's for the professionals, so we're going to find the very best we can,” Nina Rea said.  

What happens when someone you love goes missing? 

In this special episode of News Now, Rea’s mother, best friend and others talk about a harrowing year of trying to find more answers in a case where there is little to be found.

READ MORE:

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Family of missing paddleboarder offers $25,000 for tips leading to her return

Flathead sheriff says use of more advanced sonar is next in search for Emily Rea

Authorities continue search for missing paddleboarder Emily Rea

Authorities searching for woman last seen near Hungry Horse Reservoir

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