Woman’s story of being tied up unsubstantiated, police say

Sheriff’s detectives in Skamania County have been unable to confirm a woman’s report that someone tied her up while she was sleeping in her Jeep Cherokee, stole the vehicle and left her behind in Gifford Pinchot National Forest east of Cougar.

“We haven’t been able to substantiate any of her story,” Undersheriff Dave Cox said Wednesday evening.

Heather L. Prouty, 19, told deputies she’d been driving east on the U.S. Forest Service 90 Road late Sunday night when she became tired and stopped her white 1990 Jeep at the Forest Service 7901 Road, according to a bulletin from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

Prouty, a Woodland resident, told deputies she fell asleep and awoke outside the Jeep to find her wrists and ankles bound with duct tape, and the Jeep missing.

Prouty said she freed herself and flagged down a passing motorist, who drove her to the Sheriff’s Substation in Cougar about 4:30 a.m. Monday, the bulletin said.

Officials found Prouty’s Jeep and belongings near where she last reported seeing it, Detective Sgt. Monte Buettner said in the bulletin.

There was no indication that any drugs or alcohol were involved, Cox said Wednesday.

Deputies had Prouty checked at a hospital and there was no indication she’d been sexually assaulted. She was treated and released.

The Columbian was unable to contact Prouty.

“We have a responsibility to investigate anything that is turned into us,” Cox said Wednesday, but he said detectives likely won’t expend more time on Prouty’s claim unless more information surfaces.

“Our investigators are going, ‘We don’t understand why she’s doing this,’” Cox said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the 24-hour emergency number in Stevenson, 509-427-9490.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.