They Vanished in Redwoods, 4 Years Later Hikers Find a Strange Fungus Infestation at Tree… | HO

The disappearance of a young family in the ancient redwood forests had haunted Northern California for years. Serena Quaid, her husband Kalin Vancraftoft, and their six-month-old daughter Isa were seasoned travelers, familiar with the wilderness. Their trip in August 2013 was meant to be a gentle introduction for their infant to the towering giants of the Redwood National and State Parks.

Instead, the family vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a single haunting photograph and a trail of questions that would remain unanswered for four agonizing years.

That silence was shattered in the summer of 2017, when a group of mycology students stumbled upon a grotesque fungal growth at the base of an oak tree deep in the forest. What began as a scientific curiosity quickly became the key to unraveling a crime that had festered beneath the surface—both literally and figuratively.

The Disappearance

The first signs of trouble were subtle. Serena’s mother, Odilia Hastings, grew concerned when her daughter failed to check in as planned. Serena, 32, and Kalin, 33, were meticulous about communication, especially with a baby in tow. When repeated calls went unanswered, Odilia’s worry hardened into fear. She contacted local authorities, setting off a search operation that would grow to one of the largest in park history.

Investigators quickly pieced together the family’s last known movements. Kalin, an environmental consultant, was experienced in wilderness navigation; Serena, a graphic designer, was cautious but trusted her husband’s expertise. Their itinerary was simple—easy trails, no need for a satellite phone, just a relaxing family outing.

A breakthrough came from technology. A single photograph had synced to cloud storage two days before their disappearance. It showed the family smiling on a sun-dappled trail, dwarfed by ancient trees. The image’s metadata pinpointed their location, but more importantly, the angle suggested a third party had taken the photo—a fellow hiker.

Authorities found the family’s car parked at the trailhead, undisturbed. The search began in earnest, with teams combing the area, but the redwoods’ dense undergrowth and perpetual twilight made progress painfully slow. Helicopters were useless; even ground teams struggled to see more than a few yards ahead. Weeks passed with no sign—no belongings, no clues, no evidence of struggle. The forest seemed to have swallowed them whole.

The photographer was eventually identified—a German tourist, who recalled nothing unusual. The family had simply continued down the trail, happy and relaxed.

Dead Ends and Dark Theories

As the search dragged on, investigators explored darker possibilities. A month in, a tracking team discovered illegal old-growth poaching activity nearby. Could the family have stumbled upon a criminal operation? Was foul play involved? For a time, this theory gained traction, but interviews with known timber poachers yielded nothing. The timeline didn’t fit, and there was no evidence connecting the disappearance to the illegal logging.

After two months, the search was scaled back. The Vancraftoft Quaid family became another tragic local legend, their fate lost to the silence of the ancient woods.

The Fungal Discovery

Four years later, the mystery was revived by chance. A team of mycology graduate students from Oregon, led by Xander Zeller, were conducting research on fungal regrowth after wildfires. Their permits allowed access to remote, rarely visited parts of the park, far from the popular trails.

During a break near a large oak tree, Zeller noticed a bizarre, three-foot-wide fungal mass at the base of the tree. It was a chaotic mix of sulfurous yellow, stark white, and patches of oily black—more chemical spill than natural growth. The stench was overpowering, a concentrated odor of decomposition that cut through the forest air.

Intrigued, the students photographed and sampled the growth, suspecting it was fueled by a buried animal carcass. The next day, equipped with shovels and sampling tools, they returned to investigate. As they dug, the smell intensified. Soon, their tools struck something resilient—a heavy-duty black plastic tarp. The mood shifted from scientific curiosity to dread.

Cutting through the tarp, they uncovered the heavily decomposed remains of a human adult. The students immediately called authorities.

The Body in the Woods

The remote location complicated the investigation. Forensic teams were airlifted in, hiking hours through rugged terrain to reach the site. The body, tightly wrapped in industrial-grade tarp and buried deep, was clearly hidden with care. Initial assessment confirmed the remains were male, but identification was impossible due to advanced decomposition.

Dental records provided the answer: the body was Kalin Vancraftoft. Four years after his disappearance, his fate was finally known.

The news devastated Odilia Hastings and Kalin’s family. But the discovery raised new, terrifying questions—where were Serena and Isa? The grave contained only Kalin.

A Puzzling Cause of Death

The autopsy revealed no obvious trauma—no gunshot, stabbing, or blunt force injuries. The cause of death was undetermined. The clandestine burial suggested foul play, but the body showed no signs of violence.

Specialized toxicology screens were ordered. Weeks later, the results stunned investigators: Kalin had died from a massive dose of rattlesnake venom. While rattlesnakes are rare in the cool, shaded redwoods, herpetologists confirmed it was possible, though highly unusual.

The new theory: Kalin had been bitten while hiking, dying within hours. But the burial and disappearance of his wife and child pointed to a third party’s involvement.

The Tarp’s Trail

Forensic analysis of the tarp yielded vital clues. Microscopic particles of volcanic rock dust and traces of aged diesel fuel were embedded in the plastic. The tarp itself was an industrial-grade material, sold only through specialized rural supply outlets.

Investigators mapped volcanic soil deposits, diesel storage locations, and tarp distributors, narrowing the search to isolated properties near the park. One stood out—a remote homestead owned by Whan Yrow, a reclusive man known for his volatile temper and fierce privacy.

The Search for Truth

Detectives visited Yrow’s property under the guise of a fire safety check. The grounds matched the evidence perfectly—volcanic soil, diesel tanks, and rolls of the same black tarp. A search warrant was secured, and a tactical team raided the property at dawn.

Inside, the cabin was a chaotic clutter of possessions. The search stretched into the afternoon before an investigator noticed an irregularity in the kitchen floor—a hidden access panel. Beneath it, a cramped root cellar held a horrific secret: the skeletal remains of Serena Quaid, partially buried under burlap sacks.

Clothing fragments and dental records confirmed her identity. The autopsy revealed she had been strangled, her hyoid bone fractured. The root cellar also contained Serena’s blue fanny pack, baby clothing, and a handcrafted blanket, confirming Isa had been at the homestead.

The Confession

Confronted with overwhelming evidence, Whan Yrow eventually confessed. He told a chilling story: Serena, lost and desperate, had stumbled onto his property after Kalin’s fatal snake bite. Instead of helping, Yrow kidnapped and assaulted her, then murdered her to cover up his crimes. He buried Kalin near where he died, wrapped in the tarp, and concealed Serena in the cellar.

But the fate of Isa remained uncertain. Yrow claimed he couldn’t bring himself to harm the infant. Instead, he said he took Isa to Mexico, leaving her at an orphanage in the state of Oaxaca under a false identity. Investigators found partial evidence supporting the trip, but the trail grew cold in Mexico’s rural orphanage system.

Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

Yrow pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault, receiving life without parole. The case was closed, but for Odilia Hastings, closure was incomplete. The fate of Isa remained unknown—a final, haunting question in a case defined by tragedy and deception.

The redwoods, silent witnesses to the family’s ordeal, continue their slow cycle of growth and decay. The strange fungus at the base of the oak tree, once a scientific curiosity, became a marker for the horror hidden just beneath the surface. And for those who walk the ancient trails, the story of the Vancraftoft Quaid family is a chilling reminder: in the depths of the forest, some secrets are buried for years, waiting for the right moment to come to light.