Police are searching a Connecticut state forest for a woman who has been missing since Sunday.
The multi-day search has taken place at the Natchaug State Forest and has touched on parts of the forest that stretch into Eastford, Chaplin and Hampton, according to state Environmental Conservation Police.
EnCon police said they are being assisted by Connecticut State Police and other search and rescue crews in search of 61-year-old Anne Marie Pappalardo, who was reported missing from Mansfield.
According to a Silver Alert, Pappalardo was last seen wearing a black jacket, black vest, black leggings and brown boots. She has brown hair and green eyes and stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, the Silver Alert said.
“To ensure the safety of the public and to allow search teams to operate effectively and efficiently, we are urgently requesting that all hunters, anglers, hikers and general park patrons avoid the Natchaug State Forest area until further notice,” EnCon police said in a statement.
Anyone found in the forest or nearby will be ordered to leave, police said.
“Your cooperation is essential to the success of this critical operation,” EnCon police wrote.
Officials are using multiple K-9 teams and are worried that individuals visiting the forest could throw off the dog’s ability to follow a scent trail.
EnCon police said they recognize that people want to help but said “right now the best way to do that is to avoid the area.”

