Woman, noted author missing from Seattle ferry

The Washington State Patrol is asking for the public’s help in locating a Bellevue woman who disappeared from a Washington State Ferry on the Seattle to Bainbridge Island run Tuesday night.

Lynn Stafford-Vilmaz disappeared after apparently boarding the Bainbridge-bound ferry at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Her Ford family minivan was left abandoned on the car deck, and authorities say her purse, keys and a cup of coffee were found on an upper deck.

“That leads us to believe there are possibilities that she could have fallen overboard, or, you know. It’s under investigation,“ said Kelly Quinn of the State Patrol.

Stafford-Vilmaz, 45, is a mother of two elementary school-aged children, a teacher of English as a second language at Bellevue Community College and a noted author on the subject.

She has co-authoring at least 10 books.

Neighbors describe Stafford-Vilmaz as a dedicated mother, not the type to be involved with anything dangerous.

“On a Wednesday to have all that happen that seems really weird because of school and the regular schedules that they keep. That’s why my mind goes to something awful,“ said neighbor Anne Healey.

Friends of the Staffords say the family does have property on Bainbridge Island and perhaps she was headed there.

Investigators say the woman’s husband was home with the kids Tuesday night and is not a suspect in the case.

“I don’t have an explanation. It feels awful,“ said Healey.

Ferry officials say they are looking through surveillance video on board the ferry to see if that gives them any clues.

Detectives said there was no sign of a struggle on board and there was no suicide note.