MACHIAS – When Kelly Sarsten didn’t show up for work, her friends were worried enough to search her property.

Their worry turned to heartache when investigators found Sarsten’s remains submerged in the Pilchuck River not far from her house.

That was a year ago.

Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives continue to hunt for the woman’s killer.

“It isn’t a cold case. We’re working on it,” sheriff’s deputy and spokesman Rich Niebusch said.

The Machias woman’s family has been in contact with detectives on a weekly basis, said Judy Stephenson, Sarsten’s sister.

“She definitely isn’t forgotten at all,” Stephenson said. “We want it solved. We want that person found.”

Sarsten, 37, was well known in the Lake Stevens area where she lived for more than a decade before she moved to her Machias home a couple years ago.

About 50 neighbors and friends gathered in January for a vigil to remember Sarsten, who was described as a sweet and trusting woman.

The mourners called for justice to be served to whomever murdered their friend.

“We aren’t going to stop until we find out what happened. We’ll never find closure until the person who did this is caught,” neighbor Jerry McAllister told The Herald in January.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office hasn’t released how Sarsten was killed, only saying that she died of homicidal violence.

Friends reported Sarsten missing Aug. 19, 2004, when she didn’t show up for work. Sarsten owned and operated Extreme Rock, a trucking company.

Detectives searched Sarsten’s house, locating a sandal on a trail leading down to the river, according to a search warrant.

A search dog led investigators to the river, where Sarsten’s body was found in a stagnant pool of water.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.

Can you help?

Anyone with information about the death of Kelly Sarsten is asked to call the Snohomish County sheriff’s tip line at 425-388-3845.