Geraldine Largay–known as Inchworm to her family members and close friends–began hiking the Appalachian Trail back in April 2013 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Husband George met her along the way, bringing necessary supplies.

Last seen by hikers at Poplar Ridge Lean-to, a shelter on the Appalachian Trail, just north of Saddleback Mountain in Maine on July 22, 2013, Geraldine Largay had plans to meet her husband the next day, where the Appalachian Trail crosses Route 27. She never showed.

Appalachian trail hiker Geraldine Largay vanished in July 2013 http://t.co/2RZacZ5Qez pic.twitter.com/ZqWgwsfe2z

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) October 17, 2015

A search began July 24th, with wardens and K9 teams conducting what they call a “hasty search.” This means they checked out areas lost hikers are likely to have wound up–old olds roads or stream beds. There was no trace of Geraldine Largay.

Cadaver dogs joined the searched a couple of weeks later, and came within 100 yards of where a contractor conducting a forest survey found human remains this past Wednesday.

Due to the location and evidence surrounding them, the remains are believed to be those of Geraldine Largay. Along with skeletal remains, several pieces of clothing and possessions known to be hers were discovered.

Lt. Kevin Adam of the Maine Warden Service, who led the search, and NCIS special agent Nathan O’Connor spoke at a press conference to answer questions.

Geraldine Largay was last seen at Poplar Ridge lean-to by fellow hikers on July 22,2013. http://t.co/ULIKlo9gdc pic.twitter.com/JOiLMb4ONP

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) October 17, 2015

“It’s a great sense of relief that we’ve found Gerry and we can return her to her family,” Adam said. “The other thing is–pending the medical examiner’s results–it puts to bed what everybody thought, that there was criminal play around this. We just never saw any of that.”

Geraldine Largay’s family, which has been updated routinely about searches and investigative leads regarding her disappearance, has asked for time to come to terms with the discovery before making any further public statement. They expressed their gratitude to all the searchers and investigators who have taken the time to search for Geraldine Largay throughout the past two-plus years.

While the outcome of this situation is a tragedy, hopefully the family of Geraldine Largay finds some solace in the solving of this mystery. It has to be incredibly difficult for those with missing loved ones to never find the answers they’re seeking.