"She's one of the best." Silver Alert issued for missing Palmer woman

A Silver Alert has been issued for Myra Lanthier, age 72 of Palmer, who was reported missing last week. Just after noon on July 18, Alaska State Troopers (AST) received a report that Lanthier was missing. She was last heard from on July 17 at approximately 0830 hours, according to an online dispatch.

Listed as a vulnerable person. Lanthier was last seen at the Palmer Caboose several days ago. According to the Silver Alert, Lanthier was wearing baggy blue jeans and a blue and gray jacket between Hughes Circle and the intersections of Clark and Wolverine Roads in Palmer.

She is described as 5’2” and weighing between 110 and 120 pounds, Caucasian, with white hair and blue eyes. She has no known scars or identifiable marks, but does wear glasses. It has been reported that Lanthier does not have her cellphone, wallet, or ID with her.

Lanthier has been a part of the Palmer for community for years, working as a waitress at the Noisy Goose and working as a dispatcher for the Palmer Police Department until she retired several years ago.

“She’s one of the best,” says longtime friend Gleo Huyck, who worries for his friend. “She is well-known and deeply loved.”

Huyck describes Lanthier as quiet, smart, and loved being outside, but says that she has experienced some mental health issues recently, and may have been making some irrational decisions. He went on to say that Lanthier’s behavior was concerning enough that her brother made a visit from the lower 48, but the day he left, she was left alone, and later turned up missing.

“It has been way too long since we’ve seen her, with no signs of her.”

Since then, search parties made up of Lanthier’s friends, family, and coworkers have been searching from her home to the Old Glenn Highway and into Palmer, searching ditches, brush lines, trails, power lines, and wooded areas, on foot, by ATV, and utilizing drones.

“They’ve pretty much canvassed the area with dogs and drones, picking up life forms but nothing more,” said Huyck.

Anyone having any information should contact the AST in Palmer at (907) 745-2131, reference case number AK25070668.

This is a developing story.