Missoula Cold Case Sees Renewed Hope on Eighth Anniversary

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - According to the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, this month marks the eighth anniversary of the unsolved Susan “Susie” Wood case. Police Public Information Officer Jeannette Smith explained what we know today. 

“On Saturday, March 3, 2018, at around 8:30 p.m., a jogger found Susan Wood lying unconscious on Coal Mine Road, near the intersection with Otis Street, in Missoula,” Smith said. “The responding officers first believed Susie had been a victim of a hit and run.  However, the investigation quickly determined that she had sustained blunt force trauma injuries not consistent with a pedestrian being hit by a car. Susie was transported to St. Patrick's Medical Center. Unfortunately, she never recovered consciousness and died from her injuries on March 16, 2018. She was 45 years old.” 

Earlier this year, they assigned the case to their Cold Case Unit, which is undertaking a review of all evidence collected in 2018, with an eye toward identifying any technological advances that may warrant re-testing of the evidence.  Smith said they’re also conducting additional interviews and reviewing all CCTV (security/surveillance camera) footage collected. 

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Tracing Susie’s Final Movements

“The investigation in 2018 focused on tracing her last known movements,” Smith said. “When Susie left her house on March 3rd, she was on her way to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, where she worked as a night cleaner. Susie took the Mountain Line bus from her residence on Stephens St. to the mall transfer station, where she caught the bus to Reserve Street.” 

Smith said detectives collected available CCTV from the surrounding businesses and created the following timeline. 

“Susie is seen on CCTV at Albertsons at 6:34 p.m., where she bought snacks for her evening shift,” Smith said. “CCTV footage next shows her walking by the Target store entrance at 6:40 pm and through the shopping area by Lowe's at 6:48 p.m. She is then seen walking across the grass berm by Costco at 6:55 p.m. to reach the Reserve Street bridge.” 

Last Sightings and Key Locations

According to Smith, Susie was last seen at 7:00 p.m. walking up the Reserve Street bridge from the south, on the sidewalk of the northbound lanes.  She was not seen on any CCTV on Reserve Street north of Howard Raser Drive.   

“Due to the fact that she was last seen at the Reserve Street bridge at 7:00 p.m. and she was found unconscious on Coal Mine Road at 8:30 p.m., we believe that someone stopped to offer Susie a ride as she was walking along Reserve, at or near the intersection of Stockyard and Reserve,” Smith said. “Instead of returning to Reserve to take her to work, we believe the suspect drove down Stockyard to Coal Mine Road, where she jumped from the moving vehicle to escape.  Due to injuries she sustained, we believe that she rolled under the vehicle and was struck by the rear wheels.” 

Smith said Susie was wearing a pink jacket with brass buttons on March 3, 2018. She was 5'4" and weighed 260 lbs. Susie is seen in the CCTV footage carrying a backpack, which appears to be red or maroon in color, which was not found at the scene. Also missing is her cell phone, which is believed to be an LG Extravert 2, that she always carried with her.    

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

If anyone recalls anything suspicious near the intersection of Stockyard Road and Reserve on March 3, 2018, or has any information related to the case or the missing items, please contact the Missoula County Sheriff's Office immediately at 406-258-3348 or dial 911.