Vanderhoof rallies around missing woman's family

The Mayor of Vanderhoof says his community is rallying around the family of Madison Scott, the 20-year-old woman who went missing this weekend after attending a bush party in Central B.C.

Police later found her truck and tent at a campsite at Hogsback Lake about 25 km south of Vanderhoof but a massive search by air, ground and water by 150 people failed to find any other trace of her.

RCMP called off the ground search for Scott on Monday, but friends and family say they're raising money to pay for a further helicopter search. A Facebook.com site has been set up to organize the effort.

The town's mayor Gerry Thiessen knows the Scott family, and says the disappearance has hit the town hard.

"As you talk to people and see people on the street, it's that sense that your stomach has just kinda dropped out of you for a second here. It's very, very difficult and very tough on your emotions," said Thiessen.

Police investigators have determined that Madison was last seen around 3 a.m. Saturday at the campsite. They are looking to speak to anyone who attended that party or a second one at the same site on Saturday night.

"We believe someone who was in the area this weekend may have seen Madison or even spoken to her, Sgt. Rob Vermeulen said in an statement.

"It is important that we determine what happened that night, what her plans were for Saturday and the rest of the weekend. We have conducted some interviews, but it is important that we speak to anyone and everyone who will help piece together the bigger picture. We still have many questions as does Madison's family," said Vermeulen.

Madison Scott is described as a 20-year-old Caucasian, five-foot four-inches tall, 170 lbs with ginger hair. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and blue jean Capri pants.

She was driving an off-white early 1990s model F-150 pickup truck and had a two-tone blue tent; both were left at the site and are now in police custody.

Anyone with information is asked to call Vanderhoof RCMP.