Woman's identity and hometown remain a mystery

ALBANY, Ore. - A woman found wandering on the side of the road has been committed to a hospital by a judge for her own protection, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, as investigators piece together how she wound up in the mid-Willamette Valley.

The woman, found May 15 about 4 miles east of Albany, said her name is Katie Walker and that she was born April 4, but she did not know what year.

She told authorities she had hitchhiked from Maine to Oregon. A passerby offered her water, but she just poured it out, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said.

She was found with no identification or money.

On May 23, a judge committed her to the hospital for 180 days for her own protection. The sheriff's office said the request was granted due to her inability to care for herself or provide any information as to her identity or where she is from, although she maintains she is from Canada and Fort Kent, Maine.

Since asking the public for help identifying the woman, detectives got numerous reports that she may be Fay Johnson who is listed as missing from the state of Maine. 

However, after contacting authorities in Maine, investigators have determined this individual is not Fay Johnson, Undersheriff Bruce Riley said.

Detectives have confirmed through video surveillance that this woman was at a Greyhound bus depot in Spokane, Wash., two days before she was found in Oregon.

In the video, she is seen getting off a bus and immediately going to the terminal to board a bus to Portland, Ore. 

Detectives are working with Greyhound authorities in the United States and Canada to try and obtain additional passenger information.

The Sheriff's Office ask anyone with information to please call the Linn County Sheriff's Office at (541) 967-3950.