HOCKING HILLS, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources say a branch that hit and killed a woman on Labor Day was dislodged, and they are looking for people who may have been on top of the cave.
ODNR says 44-year-old Victoria Schafer of Chillicothe was killed by a falling tree branch while on the stairs near Old Man’s Cave around 5:30 p.m.
Investigator Captain Schaad Johnson said it appears that a section of a tree somehow became dislodged from the top of the cave and struck Schafer.
"We do have evidence to support that individuals, and we have a description of the individuals, were on the top section above where this incident happened,” he said.
When asked if the tree section was dislodged on purpose, Schaad said they are investigating that.
If you were at Old Man’s Cave around this time and saw anything, you are asked to call ODNR at 614-799-9538.
This is the third death in the Hocking Hills area since June.
The body of 55-year-old Dana M. Busson recovered in a remote location at Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve in June.
Twenty-two-year-old Alexander Cristin Colson died last month after falling off an overlook for the Lower Falls at Old Man’s Cave.