Body of Snohomish elementary teacher found near Mill Creek

Published 10:50 am Thursday, January 16, 2020

MILL CREEK — A Snohomish School District teacher was found dead of hypothermia Wednesday, two days after she went missing.

Kathleen Jenks, 57, a second-grade teacher at Little Cedars Elementary School, resided in a neighborhood east of Mill Creek. She was last seen leaving her home on foot around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

Over the next days temperatures hovered in the 30s, with snow showers. A passerby found a woman’s body around 8 p.m. Wednesday, in the 6300 block of Snohomish Cascade Drive, near her home and the Gold Creek fire station.

On Thursday, the county medical examiner identified the deceased as Jenks. The death was classified as accidental.

“We are heartbroken by this news,” Little Cedars Principal Lew Dickert wrote in a letter to families. “Her death is a profound loss to our Little Cedars Elementary family, our school district and to the Snohomish community. Mrs. Jenks loved kids and was passionate about helping them reach their full potential.”

Jenks worked in the Shoreline School District for 27 years. She had taught at the elementary school near Mill Creek since 2017, district spokeswoman Kristin Foley said.

A counseling and support team planned to be available on campus Friday, for students and others grieving the loss.

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.

This story has been updated to show that Kathleen Jenks was last seen at 10 a.m. on Monday, not Sunday night as previously reported.