Park rangers find missing father dead near mountain summit; search continues for daughter

Officials say Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, left the Abol Campground on Sunday to hike but never returned. (Source: WABI)
Published: Jun. 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 3, 2025 at 8:24 PM CDT
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BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine (WABI/Gray News) - Park rangers in Maine say they are continuing their search for a missing girl after she and her father went missing over the weekend.

According to Baxter State Park rangers, the father and daughter from Ulster Park, New York, were last seen near the summit of Mount Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain, on Sunday.

Officials said they began their search for 58-year-old Tim Keiderling and 28-year-old Esther Keiderling after the two left the Abol Campground but never returned.

On Tuesday, authorities updated their search, saying a K-9 search team found the body of Tim Keiderling on the Tableland Trail near the mountain’s summit.

Rangers said the father-daughter’s vehicle remains in the day-use parking lot as the two seemingly never made it back to the lot.

State officials said their search has expanded to more of the park’s trails with additional resources.

The Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard have been searching the area from the air.

Authorities said the Hunt and Abol Trails remain closed during the search.

Anyone with further information regarding the hikers has been urged to state police at 207-532-5400.