Update on sighting of missing Monona woman in Michigan's UP

UPDATE (WKOW) -- Police investigators have determined a recent location for a missing Monona woman, but the new information is little consolation to her family members.   

Authorities say the 43-year-old mother of three, Holly Ringen, disappeared Tuesday with her dog.  

Monona Police Chief Walter Ostrenga says she was seen in Munising, Michigan, which is in the state's upper peninsula, Wednesday.

A recent Facebook post by one of Ringen's family members stated the family was satisfied that she was safe.  But investigators say the Monona Police Department and her family still consider Ringen to be at risk.  

Chief Ostrenga says the remote area where she was seen is near Pictured Rocks State Park.  He says they were able to track her credit card there after a towing company pulled her out of three feet of snow.  He says officials there told him she was walking around on snow shoes.  

Channel 27's Tony Galli spoke with Chief Ostrenga Friday as well as Skip Rutter, the tow truck operator who pulled her out.

Rutter says "She had walked out or something. I think she had tied her dog at her car, so she didn't have to walk all the way out with the dog. Then, someone else came across the dog and brought it to the pound, because they didn't know what was going on."

Ostrenga says Ringen was reunited with her dog, but staff members from the facility didn't know she was missing and didn't stop her. 

Monona Police Detective Lieutenant Ryan Losby says from the credit card being used, he was able to network with a Wisconsin law enforcement data center, as well as fusion centers in Michigan and Minnesota.    

Chief Ostrenga confirms that no family member has made contact with her yet and adds that even if Holly Ringen's journey into rugged country 300 hundred miles away was her choice, family members say leaving behind three school-aged children and a full-time job is completely out of character.  He says they're distraught over the whole experience.  

His department is trying to arrange for Ringen's photo to appear on billboards in portions of Michigan's UP, hoping for another sighting. Ostrenga says he's hoping that can lead to assurance that this Dane County mom isn't disoriented, or otherwise gone, for reasons out that may be out of her control.   

If you have any information about Holly or know where she may now be, contact the Monona Police Department at (608) 222-0463, Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014, or you can text “MONONA” followed by your information to TIP411 (847411). 


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