Box of ammo, 'abnormal' notes found in car of Ohio woman reported missing during Alabama hiking trip

Alabama deputies are asking the public for assistance in finding a missing woman who left Ohio more than three weeks ago for a hiking trip and never returned.On Sept. 20, Vendula Rose told her family and friends that she would be going on a hiking trip to Alabama. She mentioned that she would be leaving some personal items behind in a safety deposit box at her bank and decided to leave her work keys with her employer.Rose left Ohio that same day, arriving in the Dugger Mountain area of Cleburne/Calhoun County hours later, where she reportedly hiked a portion of the Pinhoti Trail.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Three days after arriving in Alabama, Rose decided to travel to South Carolina. She arrived in the early hours of Sept. 24 before returning to Alabama later that night. She was then captured on camera making a purchase at a business in Oxford before driving to Cheaha State Park, where her vehicle was later found parked at the Pinhoti Trailhead.Over a week later, a missing persons report was filed in Marysville, Ohio, after Rose failed to return to work.On Oct. 5, deputies with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, alongside a Cheaha State Park Ranger, conducted an immediate search of the park after Rose's vehicle was located. The search continued into the next day where volunteers from rescue squads, fire departments and law enforcement agencies, including K9, equine and aviation teams, covered roughly 36 miles worth of trails.While processing Rose's vehicle, law enforcement gained access to her GPS data which helped to verify where and when she had been traveling. They also located a magazine, a box of ammo missing seven rounds, and several notes that were deemed "abnormal for Rose unless she was having a mental health crisis.>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for freeAt this time, deputies believe that Rose is traveling somewhere on the Pinhoti Trail north of the Cheaha State Park toward the Dugger Mountain area. Her family says she has mentioned interest in the Pinhoti as well as the Appalachian.Those traveling any trails in Cleburne County are asked to keep an eye out for Rose or any of her belongings pictured above.Rose's disappearnce is a scenario that worries other hikers, like Kristi Edwards, who also hikes alone. She said, “It does, very much . And it worries my daughter, too. That's why I have bear spray. I have an air horn and I’ve got a real loud thing that just beeps really, really loud.”Hiker Tammie Arcement, from Louisiana, spent the day on the trail and made sure to keep an eye out for Rose or her distinct red backpack. She said, “We really didn't see any signs of anything. The only things that we just really noticed is that there were certain areas on the trail that someone could have easily slipped off, and just it was really very steep. They could have slid all the way down where they wouldn't have been visible.”The Pinhoti Trail is 130 miles long, stretching all the way into north Georgia. That's a lot of area to search. So, authorities said the best possibility right now is that other hikers, on various sections of the trail, might see some sign of Rose.As Edwards heads off her hike, she said she'll be looking and she's hoping her pup might be able to help. She added, “Yeah. No, we can do that. And she may be able to smell something out. She's always finding stuff.”Authorities found Rose's car parked near the trail. They said inside, they found notes that could indicate a mental health crisis and a box of ammunition with missing rounds. After more than two weeks with no sign of her, Acrement said, “Right now, I’d be worried, very worried.” Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Sims with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Department at 256-463-2277 ext. 110.