Woman Vanished on Morning Jog in Napa—Two Years Later, a Truffle-Hunting Pig Uncovers the Truth

The Napa Valley is a place where the morning air is thick with the scent of grapes and wild rosemary, where golden sunlight filters through ancient oaks and the trails are a sanctuary for runners and hikers alike. It was on one of these winding paths that 28-year-old Veronica Hensley, a beloved marathoner and physical therapist, vanished without a trace—a disappearance that would haunt her community and family for two agonizing years.

The Morning She Disappeared

September 16th, 2020, dawned like any other in Napa. Veronica, disciplined and vibrant, set out for her usual solo run along the Channel Trail. Her boyfriend, David Chen, was away at a conference in Sacramento, their last goodbye a sleepy kiss in the early morning dark. By evening, when Veronica failed to answer her phone and missed their nightly call, David’s unease quickly spiraled into panic.

He wasn’t the only one. Veronica’s friends hadn’t heard from her either. By the next morning, David was racing back to Napa, his mind reeling with worst-case scenarios. At the trailhead, he found her car untouched—keys, water bottle, and sunglasses inside, as if she might return at any moment. But Veronica was gone.

A Search That Consumed a Community

The response was immediate and massive. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue teams, volunteers, and K9 units fanned out across the rugged, sun-baked hills. Helicopters and drones scanned the dense canopy from above. Hope surged when a dog picked up Veronica’s scent, but it vanished at a fork in the trail. The only clue—a single bright pink shoelace, matching Veronica’s running shoes—was found tangled in the brush far from the main path. It was both a breakthrough and a torment: proof she’d been there, but no hint why, or where she’d gone next.

Tips trickled in. An elderly couple reported seeing a woman matching Veronica’s description arguing with a man by a blue pickup on a remote trail. The lead fizzled. The search stretched on for weeks, covering over 50 square miles. Eventually, the yellow tape came down. The case went cold.

Unanswered Questions and Lingering Grief

For Veronica’s family, the pain never faded. Her younger sister Jessica became the keeper of her memory, organizing annual memorial runs and refusing to let her story be forgotten. Online, armchair detectives debated theories: a tragic accident, a mountain lion attack, a voluntary disappearance. None fit the facts. The truth remained buried, literally and figuratively.

A Breakthrough from the Unlikeliest Source

Two years later, in October 2022, a retired chef named Michael Petro and his truffle-hunting pig Rosie were foraging in a remote corner of private oak woodland, miles from any trail. Rosie, usually methodical, began digging with frantic urgency. Michael expected a prized truffle. Instead, his shovel struck plastic.

Beneath the soil was a grocery bag, caked with dirt. Inside: a pink-and-white sports bra, black running shorts, and other personal items—clothes that matched the ones Veronica wore the day she vanished. There was also a used condom and a tampon, chilling evidence of violence. Michael’s wife Sarah, recognizing the significance, snapped photos and called the police.

Science Delivers Justice

Forensic teams descended on the site. The clothing was undeniably Veronica’s. The DNA extracted from the condom was a perfect match to Mark Jennings, a 45-year-old landscaper with a prior conviction for indecent exposure. Surveillance revealed Jennings stalking trailheads, his computer held hundreds of telephoto images of women running—including dozens of Veronica, taken in the weeks before she disappeared.

Confronted with the evidence, Jennings broke. He confessed to ambushing Veronica, assaulting and killing her when she fought back, and burying her clothing and body in separate locations to mislead investigators. He led police to her remains, finally bringing an end to her family’s nightmare.

A Serial Predator Unmasked

The horror didn’t stop there. Among Jennings’s files were images of other women—some linked to unsolved missing persons cases from neighboring counties. The quiet landscaper was revealed as a serial predator, his crimes hidden behind the mask of ordinary life.

A Community Changed

Veronica’s murder sent shockwaves through Napa Valley. The beloved trails became haunted by memories of her disappearance. In her memory, the community rallied: ranger patrols increased, emergency call boxes were installed, and a memorial bench was placed at the Channel Trailhead, facing the path she loved.

The Unlikely Hero

Justice, when it came, was thanks to a string of improbable events—a truffle pig’s persistent snout, a chef’s quick thinking, and the unwavering hope of a family that refused to let go. Without Rosie, the pig, the truth might have remained buried for decades.

Veronica Hensley’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest mysteries, sometimes it takes a touch of luck, a bit of persistence, and the right nose for the truth to finally come to light.