Police suspend Matanuska River search for missing woman

Search and rescue efforts along the Matanuska River have been suspended overnight as a Palmer woman remains missing, Palmer police said.

Rachel Lynn Mallard, 39, was reported missing Thursday. She was last seen at her Palmer home Wednesday, Palmer Police Chief Lance Ketterling said in a statement.

Ketterling said hikers along the Matanuska River found some of Mallard's belongings around 1 p.m. Friday, about a half-mile north of the Old Glenn Highway bridge across the river.

Search and rescue resources deployed include two boats from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough water rescue team and three search dogs operating on land, Ketterling said.

The search continued until dark, at which point it was suspended overnight, Ketterling said.

Ketterling said that the ground and river search was not likely to continue into Saturday. If the weather is good Saturday and aircraft are available, Ketterling said, he'll request that one fly over the area.

Ketterling urged anyone with information about Mallard's location to call Palmer police at 907-745-4811.