Autopsy provides no new details in local woman's death; investigation continues

By Heather Gould
Investigators have no new leads in the case of a South Lake Tahoe woman whose remains were found in southern Washington state in early October. The cause of death remains undetermined after an autopsy was performed.
In July, 54-year-old Marie Hanson traveled with a neighbor to the Rainbow Gathering, a countercultural event emphasizing peace and love. She was last seen on July 7, then disappeared, leaving all her personal effects behind.

"We've just about exhausted all the possibilities," said Undersheriff Dave Cox of Skamania County, Wash. "It's frustrating." Cox said between his office and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, all relevant parties have been interviewed and all leads pursued. "There's lots of rumors and ideas about what happened to her out there, but law enforcement doesn't operate off of rumors," Cox said.
The cause of death has not been determined, said Cox. With only skeletal remains to work with, unless something like a knick, which could indicate a knife wound, or other identifiable trauma to the bones is uncovered, how Hanson died may never be known, he said. Hanson's body was found near the Rainbow Gathering site in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. An official search and rescue team as well as an unofficial contingent of the Rainbow Gathering participated in the search. The Rainbow Gathering also conducted several previous searches.
Hanson was apparently very ill on July 7, the last time she was seen, and for several days previously. A gastrointestinal bug was going around the camp, said Nancy Enterline, whose son is married to Hanson's daughter, Tawny. Enterline said Hanson visited the medical tent seeking treatment. Medical personnel at the tent felt she needed a higher level of care, but after returning with a more qualified medical professional, they discovered she had left, said Enterline.
Enterline remembered a woman with a sarcastic wit, a youthful spirit and a giving nature. "She was a kid at heart . . . and gave, gave, gave, gave of her time," said Enterline.
More than 200 community members attended a memorial service for Hanson, said Enterline, including two members of the Rainbow family, which "was really touching." Additionally, she said, "we have been overwhelmed by the community support we got here in South Lake Tahoe."
Enterline was also amazed at the outpouring of concern and interest generated through a Facebook page and website established in the case. "We started with 11 friends and now we have 4400 friends, maybe," including many of the Rainbow family, members of the community, people from around the country wanting to help and others with missing family members. Through Facebook, leads were generated about Hanson, including one from the man who saw Hanson on July 7. Previously, the last confirmed sighting of Hanson was on July 5.
Enterline said the family is encouraging people with any information about what happened to Hanson to visit the Facebook page or call authorities. "Somebody must have seen something. She didn't just vanish."
The Facebook page and website http://mariehansonmissing.com will remain up, said Enterline, and will be used to publicize cases of other missing people.
The money from community fundraisers, said Enterline, will be used to pay a private detective hired by the family, to bring Hanson's body home and to pay for two plaques in her memory — one here in South Lake Tahoe and one near where she was found. The remaining money will be barely enough to cover these expenses, said Enterline. Additional donations can be made to the Marie Hanson Memorial Fund at the Al Tahoe branch of the El Dorado Savings Bank.
Though the family is still having a difficult time with Hanson's death, said Enterline, "It's getting better now that we know where she is."