UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR VALERIE SIFSOF: FEBRUARY 2014

The Sifsof family would sincerely like to thank staff writer Victoria Taylor for her news report this week about the continued search for Valerie Sifsof, and all those who keep her memory and story alive in the hope we will find her/the Truth of what happened.

http://www.youralaskalink.com/news/southeast/Search-for-Valerie-Sifsof-still-strong-243274831.html?m=y&smobile=y  

We'd like to clarify the following points: during the searches in 2012, two articles of clothing were found in Granite creek, a few miles from the Campground where she went missing: at least one positive DNA match was made. However, there have been no new items or DNA discovered of late.

Also, there has been some confusion over the locations of the search and found clothing with the DNA, simply because the Google Search results are misleading: they make those unfamiliar with the area believe that Granite Creek Campground is in, or close to, Moose Pass. However, these two locations are 33 miles apart (Granite Creek Campground is at Mile 64 on the Seward Highway and Moose Pass is at Mile 97.6). Therefore, no evidence of her presence was actually found in Moose Pass, only the Granite Creek area. 

ONE YEAR SINCE VALERIE SIFSOF'S DISAPPEARANCE: SHE IS REMEMBERED

Painting of Valerie Sifsof and Eagle by Cousin Sharon

One year ago, a warm-hearted, talented and much loved woman, daughter, neice, sister, counsin and friend to many went missing at the Granite Creek Campground, North of Girdwood, Alaska. Her family continues the search, and to honor those who have assisted. 

"Though this is a difficult day remembering Valerie Sifsof, it is a time to remember all those who helped her family through the past year with their prayers, their many contributions during the search. Those who knew her, her family and those who helped in so many ways during the search, those who didn't know her particularly the military, the law enforcement people. There are just too many that gave so unselfishly of ther time and resources. Those who flew, rafted, provided assistance in any way are to be remembered and thanked, the dogs and their handlers, and those passers-by who stopped with food and remembered all in prayer. We pray and hope that others who have missing family or friends will find peace in their searches. May you all be blessed." ~ Aunt Dorothy

WE  SHALL WAIT TOGETHER 

Let us move evenly together.

Let us stand as one.

Let evil be cast from us.

Let no man cry for himself

Or listen to those without faces.

Let us move evenly together.

Let us walk as tall trees.

Let fear be crushed within us.

Let no man speak for himself

Or give secrets to those without blood.

We shall live together;

We shall walk with you;

We shall find in each new day what hides inside of you,

We shall wait together;

We shall see the day when we go hand in hand.

To the fire in the mountain,

To the water in the sand.

- Anonymous 

Please feel free to post comments below for her family, and continue to send prays to them, and to Val's Spirit. 

The search and investigation continues...

Search Update: May 24 - 27th, 2013

Fri, Sat, Mon: hot bright sun, 65-70°, no perceptible wind. 

Sun: overcast, cool, intermittent light rain.

Searchers: Valerie's family and US military volunteers.

Friday: Sgt. James Watts, Sgt. Robert Parks and Remmey Ogoy brought out jeeps with winch and in wetsuits cleared the log jam behind day use Site 11. 

(Last fall these generous men came out to help with others from their team: the 1st/501st, Sgt. Robert Parks, Sgt. James Watts, Ben Ballard, Andrew McFarland, Reno Magsayo, Andrew Vroom, Jacob Barlow, Jason Amiott, Derek Brown, Zac Lialek, Andrew Marrero, Paul Benjamin Grantham, Remmey Ogoy.) 

Saturday and Sunday: Cleared the bank upstream as much as able. Camera in the water and covered the south bank and bend, upstream to the next site with the log bench.

The three Sifsof brothers made multiple floats down to the bridge. Ground teams walked downstream, covering the lower log jam around the bend, creek bed and campground downstream, and the confluence of Granite Creek and East Fork 6 Mile. 

Monday: Walked the length of the bend, upstream proximal and adjacent to the bank,

 including in between trees. Underbrush and grass is down with no new growth; the ground is visible. 

Timing was perfect for working with the elements. Monday, the creek had risen more than a foot overnight. The area under the trees next to the log jam is covered with water. Glaciated snow fields over gravel shoreline directly across and downstream are now under water. 

No new finds, nothing of significance. But we are grateful for all the continued assistance, and can move on to search other areas. The search is continuing!

Add caption

Volunteer Sgt. James Watts

Renewed Search for Valerie Sifsof

Published on Alaska Dispatch (http://www.alaskadispatch.com)

Home > Search for Valerie Sifsof south of Anchorage ramps up again

---

Alaska Dispatch

June 6, 2013

It’s been nearly a year since Valerie Sifsof disappeared, and now that the winter snows have largely vanished, her family has resuming its search – asking visitors to the Granite Creek Campground south of Alaska’s largest city to be on the lookout for clues.  Granite Creek is at Mile 64 of the Seward Highway.
Sifsof, 43, was reported missing [1] July 11 by her boyfriend. She reportedly walked away from their campsite at Granite Creek campground on July 7, leaving her keys, ID and cell phone behind. When she failed to contact family, her boyfriend reported her missing. Sisof is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has black hair brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt-style jacket, blue sweatpants and black boots.
According to a press release from Susan Sullivan of Victims for Justice, canine teams and volunteers in rafts on the creek have been searching before vegetation leafed out this spring – “ideal conditions,” according to Victor Sifsof, who is Valerie’s father.
Last year, searchers combed the road system from Homer to Fairbanks, including the Hope area.  A sweatshirt belonging to Valerie was found in October, and the family launched a website, www.valeriesifsof.com [2], to post details about the search.
There’s still a reward of more than $27,000 if Sifsof is recovered or someone responsible for her disappearance is arrested and convicted. The fund is administered by Victims for Justice. People with information should call Alaska State Troopers, who still consider Sifsof’s disappearance as an active case, at (907) 783-0972. The reference incident number is AK12219013.
An additional reward of $1,000 through Crime Stoppers is available for tips that lead to the arrest of a felony suspect.  Call 561-STOP.

---

Source URL: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130606/search-valerie-sifsof-south-anchorage-ramps-again

Links:

KTUU CHANNEL 2 NEWS ARTICLE: MEMORIAL SERVICE HONORS VALERIE & VOLUNTEER SEARCHERS

By Mallory Peebles & Phil WalczakChannel 2 News

3:26 p.m. AKST, November 24, 2012

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

Friends and family of missing woman Valerie Sifsof celebrated her life in a service the day after she would have turned 45.

This Saturday people filed into the St. Innocent Orthodox Cathedral for a service in Valerie Sifsof's honor. The service was not only to remember Valerie but to also thank the people who have helped in her search. 

Valerie has been missing for nearly five months and her family has been actively searching since she disappeared from the Granite Creek Campground in July. Since Valerie was reported missing family, friends and even strangers have spent countless hours trying to find her. 

“My son's spent the first five days looking for her,” said family friend Wallace Charles, “He lost 12 pounds just walking around in the woods, you know.”

Over the course of the search there have been 2 articles of clothing recovered that Valerie was last seen wearing: a green tank top and a black jacket. Both articles were found in the creek running behind the campground, but still no sign of Valeria Sifsof.

Family members said even though they acknowledged Valerie’s death today, they will continue searching.

“The problem we're having is the ice is forming so fast," said Valerie's father, Victor Sifsof, "It’s very dangerous down there. We were hoping for some warm weather to continue, but we're going to get some snow machines and we're going to continue looking.”

Family said even on a somber day, happier times come to mind.

“She was old enough to where she babysat me and always took care of me, as far as getting me something to eat," said Valerie's younger brother Bryan Sifsof, "And even as I got older she would still invite me over to eat and cook for me."

“We would sometimes gang up on the middle sister and tease her, probably too much, but that’s probably one of the best memories of Valerie,” said older brother James Sifsof.

If you would like to help the Sifsof's in their search for Valerie, they ask you visit this website. Information about planned searches can be found there.  

Contact Mallory Peebles

Just as when weaving 
One reaches the end
With fine threads woven throughout,
So is the life of humans.

    Buddha

Update From Victor Sifsof

"We searched for another solid two weeks, after Val's clothing was found: this included a helicopter, search dogs, four (4) boats and 10-15 searchers.  Many log jams were broken up and/or cameras and goggles were used.  The search was first concentrated on the water from Granite Creek to 3 miles downriver on Six Mile Creek.  Some of the searchers searched further down Six Mile Creek all the way to the inlet.  Even with the extremely cold weather, we searched as long as possible.  About a week ago the snow and ice made it impossible for the search to continue. We are now hoping for warmer weather so we could continue our search.  

The family is overwhelmed with the number of people that have helped out in many ways or participated in the search since Valerie was reported missing. 

Amy Katz, was a stranger who walked into the search site one day and volunteered to set up a website for Valerie Sifsof.  She spent many hours updating and consulting with family members in a very caring and compassionate manner.  A dozen members of I-501 infantry led by Sgt. Robert Parks, who just got back from Afghanistan, volunteered to search for a number of days with the rest of the searchers.  Here we have a group of men that were in Afghanistan fighting for our liberties and when they returned home they helped search for a person they have never met.  Also Thomas Maillelle and a number of his friends from the interior showed up one day and helped for many days on the search.

The family would like the opportunity to recognize and thank all the people that participated in any way in this enormous search effort.  We would like to invite you to attend a service in Valerie's honor at the St. Innocent Orthodox Cathedral which is located at 401 Turpin Street, Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, November 24th, 2012 at 10 AM.  Following the service, we invite you to a potluck at Southcentral's Foundations "The Gathering Room", located at 4501 Diplomacy Drive, Anchorage, Alaska. Please RSVP or if you have any questions, contact Jane Sifsof at (907) 843-0990, Rosemary DeHusson at (907) 258-4052 or Dorothy Larson at (907) 227-3276.

There have been thousands of people that helped in many ways with prayers, searches, equipment, food and contributions. We thank from the bottom of our hearts. We know we missed many names that have helped in this effort and we invite you to the service and potluck.  Unfortunately we do not have the addresses and phone numbers of all the people that participated and if you can, please call Jane Sifsof at (907) 843-0990 so we can update our list and send thank yous and invitations to as many people as possible.

Obviously we hope to find Valerie in the near future, but if The Lord decided to take Valerie directly to a safe and wonderful place we will accept His wish. 

Victor"

Special Thanks to 1-501 Infantry for Volunteering In Search

Just back from the war in  Afghanistan, the 1-501 Infantry heard about the ongoing search for Valerie Sifsof and volunteered to help search the Granite Creek area. 

Val's family and the Anchorage community could not be prouder or more touched for their acts of kindness. Volunteers included Andrew McFarland, Jacob Barlow, Andrew Vroom, Jason Amiott, Andrew Marrero, Reno Magsayo, Benjamin Ballard, Zac Lialek, Derek Brown, Robert Parks, James R. Watts, Paul Benjamin Grantham, and Remy Ogoy.

Click here to read Callan's blog post for details on the latest winter search effort

 

Please check back here at www.valeriesifsof.com for a new update, coming shortly....

TODAY'S NEWS REPORT FROM COASTAL TELEVISION

October 16th 2012 Update: Search Continues for Valerie Sifsof

With only a couple of weeks left until heavy snow is expected, there is a great urgency to take advantage of the fall season's better visibility and continue searching the area where Valerie went missing as thoroughly as possible. We hope to find her or some clues as to what happened. 

The search continued throughout last weekend, with four boats going out every day on Six Mile Creek, and about eight searchers walking the water's edge. We covered the waterways from Granite Creek Campground to the bridge, broke up several dams, and continued as far as the rapids. Nothing definitive turned out since her sweatshirt was discovered the weekend before. Several search dogs were brought out and a couple of times seemed interested in something, but nothing panned out. The police got called away on another mission, but stated plans to return in the near future with cadaver dogs: hopefully this coming weekend. 

We are concerned about safety: a couple of volunteers didn't return at dark as planned and we were afraid they were lost, but they did find their way back. Safety has to be a priority because we don't want any one else hurt or lost. Some military personnel have volunteered to come out and help; we look forward to their assistance. Professional rafters will also be joining us to travel though the rapids and go further down stream than we've able to go in the past.  

One new approach is that we have purchased an underwater camera. We'll return to the log jam areas where a couple pieces of Val's clothing was found to look below the surface this weekend.

Thanks to those who came out last week and supported us through searching and providing food. We will have more posted soon.

CURRENT SEARCH PLANS

Valerie's family wants to thank those brave and generous volunteers who came out to help search for Valerie last weekend. Also many thanks to the news reporters and their editors/producers for continuing to inform the public and bring people together in looking for her. Those supporting the search through prayers are equally appreciated. This has truly been a community effort and words cannot express our gratitude. More detailed thank you's will follow in days to come. 

A lot more is happening the rest of this week. The Alaska State Troopers will be out in the Granite Creek Campground area where Valerie's sweatshirt was found, possibly with dogs, boats and helicopters, weather permitting. Depending on the results of their efforts, the Sifsofs and volunteer searchers will return with boats and ATV's again this Thursday thru Sunday.

There is a great concern about safety. During last weekend's search, Val's siblings Trina and Victor Jr. were in an ATV accident. They are doing all right and will be helping in the search again soon.  We don't want anyone else to be harmed, so please be very careful in our effort to find Valerie. 

If you'd like to contribute in other ways, please visit any Wells Fargo Bank to make a donation to the Valerie Sifsof search fund, which will aid in buying gas, equipment rental, supplies, etc.

Valerie Sifsof's Sweatshirt Found in Creek: Search Will Continue

Please read today's story in the ADN for an update, and see other related news in the automatic newsfeed, to the right of this post.

More soon...

http://www.adn.com/2012/10/08/2654657/sweatshirt-of-missing-anchorage.html

Please pray for Valerie and her family.

TODAY'S SEARCH: KTUU NEWS REPORT

http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-3-months-since-disappearance-sifsof-family-searches-for-valerie-20121007,0,908783.story

ATTENTION -- IMPORTANT NOTICE

ATTENTION -- IMPORTANT NOTICE

Sunday, October 7, 2012, there will be a coordinated search in the area of the Granite Creek Campground, where Valerie was last seen on July 7th. Her family is making preparations to search by foot, RTV, boat and air and are requesting the help of as many volunteers as possible.

Timing of the search is critical: with most of the leaves down visibility is much better, but snowfall in the Granite Creek area is possible at any time so the window of the search is short. Please call Val's father Victor Sifsof (907-843-0991), brothers Bryan Sifsof (907-903-7414) or Jim Sifsof (907-441-7998) or Val's Aunt Dorothy (907-227 3276) if you can help at this critical time or for any questions. Please be prepared to bring rain gear if we have wet weather. 

There will be a Pre-Search Meeting at Bryan Sifsof's residence at 7520 Chad St. in Anchorage at 7pm Sat. Oct. 6, 2012. The Search will start 9 am Sunday Oct 7, 2012 at Granite Creek Campground. (Watch for sign at entrance.) 

In the meantime, please contact web administrator Amy at amykatz@yahoo.com if you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive email updates, or you can sign up as a member to this site by clicking on the link to the right of this post and start receiving new posts automatically. 

Police continue to investigate. Tips and Media inquiries into the ongoing investigation should be directed toward Srg. Zweifel in Girdwood: michael.zweifel@alaska.gov. or call 907-783-0972

Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Letitia Baxter, the 63 year old Anchorage woman who also went missing shortly after Valerie disappeared. News reports initially did not state the name of the person who was found. Ms. Baxter's body was discovered in a heavily wooded area last week near the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail/Earth Quake park, a few miles from downtown Anchorage. The cause of her death is unknown and is being investigated. Click on the "Other Missing Persons" tab at the top of this page to read more about other missing persons in the area. 

NEW ADN ARTICLE

Even after 2 months, her father "can't stop looking."

By MICHELLE THERIAULT BOOTS
Anchorage Daily News

Published: September 17th, 2012 06:34 AM 
Last Modified: September 17th, 2012 06:34 AM

Valerie Sifsof went missing on a drizzly July night at the summer-green Glacier Creek Campground on the Kenai Peninsula.

Click to enlarge

Valerie Sifsof has been missing since Saturday, July 7, 2012, when she walked away from the Granite River campground along the Seward Highway.

The other day her family friend Gloria Chythlook went back to the campground south of Turnagain Pass. She picked cranberries along a creek near where Sifsof was last seen. The tall grasses had yellowed and wilted. Leaves were starting to fall.

She's been missing for more than two months. Sifsof's family members now measure the time she has been gone in seasons.

They hope she is still alive: abducted, maybe. They fear she is the victim of a homicide.

They feel increasingly sure that she is not in the campground area, which they've scoured dozens of times. But that does not stop them from returning weekend after weekend to float the creek and walk the woods. With little else to go on, they are drawn back to the place where Sifsof was last seen.

They search for any small sign that will lead them out of the void faced by families of the missing: How could a vibrant, 43-year-old woman suddenly cease to exist?

"I can't stop looking until I'm sure," said her father, Victor Sifsof.

Valerie was camping with her boyfriend, Eliot Freeburg, at the campground on the night of July 7. She was last seen leaving the couple's campsite after they had argued sometime around midnight.

In the past two months, Victor, who lives in Dillingham but has been staying in Anchorage, has filled binders with maps and collected details of the day his daughter disappeared.

Alaska State Troopers say their active, on-the-ground search phase is over but they continue to follow up on leads. That includes getting in touch with others in the campground that night. Some have been forthcoming and easy to reach. Others have not.

The physical search has yielded few clues, said trooper Capt. Andrew Greenstreet.

Troopers plan to fly over the area with a helicopter again just before freeze-up, Greenstreet said. They may also use trained body-sniffing dogs to float the river once more."(The investigation) is active but it's not as active as we'd like it to be," he said.

Victor Sifsof said he is in touch with troopers every few days.

They are doing the best that they can with what they have, he said. But he thinks they're understaffed.

Family members, including Valerie's five siblings, have compiled a website with the help of a volunteer. On it they post photos of Valerie, updates on the search and links to media reports.

They unfurled a 12-foot-long banner with Valerie's name and story on it at the Alaska State Fair. A network of friends drove the Alaska road system, hanging fliers with Valerie's face on them anyplace that would allow it.

Weekends, they travel to the Peninsula. By now, Victor said, Valerie's brothers have floated the creek near the campground 12 or 13 times.

Once they found clothing that seemed similar to the dark sweatshirt Valerie was last seen wearing. But it didn't match.

The family fears living without an answer years or decades later. They are haunted by cases like that of Erin Gilbert, a tall, striking 25-year-old nanny who went to the Girdwood Forest Fair in 1995 and has never been seen or heard from again.

Bristol Bay commercial fishing season, during which Victor makes most of his income, came and went. He missed most of it.

Valerie's siblings have had to go back to their jobs.

In August, a bright spot in an otherwise dark summer arrived: Valerie's sister Ashley Sifsof gave birth to a 9-pound, 5-ounce baby boy she named Ashton Dwayne-Val Sifsof.

Before she disappeared, Valerie had been in charge of planning the baby shower.

---

Reach Michelle Theriault Boots at mtheriault@adn.com or 257-4344.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/09/15/2626409/family-of-woman-who-vanished-still.html#storylink=cpy

September 10, 2012 Update

"Valerie Sifsof's brothers Bryan and Jim Sifsof rafted Granite and Six mile Creeks this past weekend, but the helicopter search in that area was postponed to next weekend due bad weather and rain.  

Investigators are working on a number of fronts, including interviews with all campers in the area during the time frame of Val's disappearance. The family gathered a substantial amount of relative information on Valerie's disappearance, which was all turned over to Sgt. Michael Zweifel.

The overall plan is continue a systematic search with boat, air and foot as the weather, terrain and weather level permits.

We will be requesting updates on the investigation from Sgt. Zweifel with hope and prayer that positive news will come in the near future."

Victor 

                                  

Labor Day Weekend Update

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation will now coordinate the investigation into Valerie's disappearance and work closely with Sgt. Zweifel, who will prioritize and take over the investigation. He can be reached at (907) 783-0972. He has been involved in the search efforts since day one and continues to be communicative and helpful and we are confident he and his team will do a very complete investigation. Thanks to Col. Mallard and Capt. Greenstreet of the Alaska State Troopers who met and communicated by phone with Val's father Victor this week and agreed to authorize an aggressive investigative effort. 

Many thanks to Jeweline Lakshas for obtaining two large banners, 4x12 feet in length, which will be hung near the fairgrounds. The company making the contribution of the banners wish to remain anonymous, so please thank them in your hearts.  

Stephanie Johnson of The Missing Person Clearinghouse, along with family member Monina Willis, has taken the lead on collecting data to input into the Department of Justice Missing Person Data Base https://www.findthemissing.org/en and similar national, internet based search engines. If you search for Valerie Sifsof's name, you will find an entry; fingerprint, DNA and medical information are in the process of being added. Thanks to Eliot, Brian, Jim, Dorothy and Amy for assisting.  

Family members are returning to the Granite Creek Campground and continue to search the area as autumn approaches and terrain visibility improves. 

Thanks to Chris and Florence Kenney in Juneau for hanging fllyers and Gloria Cernann for their help.  Thanks go the many who called and sent messsages to family from far and near.  Valerie has also been added to many prayer chains.

Please see earlier posts if you have not already read them to get more details and see who has donated their invaluable time and resources to help with the search for valerie. 

Missing Anchorage Woman Valerie Sifsof's Family Asks Alaska Bureau of Investigation For Help

Valerie's father, Victor Sifsof, has continued to meet with Alaska police officials and politicians to strategize next steps. The Sifsof family and concerned community members are requesting that the Alaska Bureau of Investigation step in to conduct a serious criminal investigation into Valerie's disappearance.

The fact that family, friends, and law enforcement have throughly covered the area Valerie was last seen with not a trace or clue lead us to believe this is an abduction and/or homicide.

Unfortunately, the division of the Alaska State of Troopers that has been assisting with the search does not have the manpower or expertise to perform  thorough criminal investigations. Without obvious physical evidence of wrong doing, Missing Person cases such as Valerie's are not automatically handled by law enforcement as criminal investigations, as Val's family and the public originally assumed. When Valerie's family discovered, many weeks after she went missing, that possible witnesses had still not been contacted by law enforcement -- the campers who had been registered at the Granite Creek Campground the weekend of July 7th, where Valerie was last seen -- they began calling them themselves. Now they have a relatively fair idea of whom was there. However, possible witnesses were hesitant to speak over the phone with strangers, so in many cases the best the family could do was implore them to contact the Alaska State Troopers and hope they will do so. This is one reason they are requesting state investigators step in.  

They extend a sincere thank you to State Representative Bryce Edgmon and family friend Walter Monegan, President of the Alaska Native Justice Center and former Anchorage Public Safety Officer: both are taking their valuable time to network with law enforcement officials and monitor progress. The Alaska State Troopers involved in search efforts continue to show concern, particularly Srg. Mike Zweifel, who has demonstrated great kindness from day one of the search, and Captian Andy Greenstreet, who is providing guidance on future efforts. 

The family is grateful to the Staff/Choggiung Board of Directors (http://choggiung.com/about/mission.asp) and the Dillingham community, where many of her relatives reside, for their support. 

Also many thanks to those running the Alaska State Fair, who granted permission for a banner and signs to be posted at the fair. Because of this, hundreds of thousands more people will be made aware of the plight to find Valerie Sifsof. 

Thank you also for those who have donated funds and resources to the Search Fund at Wells Fargo Bank and the Reward Fund at the First National Bank of Alaska, which is up to $27,000 and will go to those who bring Valerie back safely, or provide information that leads to the arrest/conviction of those responsible for her disappearance. To make a donation, simply go into any branch of either bank and tell them you want to donate to the Valerie Sifsof Search Account.