Wisconsin surgeon, 26, found dead on hiking trail near waterfall

By Stephen M. Lepore For Dailymail.Com 01:57 EDT 06 Apr 2022 , updated 02:29 EDT 06 Apr 2022

A surgeon and hiker was found dead on a local trail in the state at least one week after she'd last contacted her family - with her body turning up near a waterfall with a steep 90-foot dropoff.

Kelsey Musgrove, 26, had told family that she had reached Potato River Falls in the town of Gurney on March 26, according to sheriffs in Iron County.

Four days later on March 30, police in her native Middletown asked the county to search for the cardiothoracic surgery fellow at the University of Wisconsin.

Authorities found Musgrove's car in the parking lot at Potato River Falls and found her body near a 90-foot waterfall on April 3, they said in a press release.

The sheriff's office said it does not suspect foul play in relation to her death - but did not yet give a reason.

A Wisconsin surgeon and hiker, Kelsey Musgrove, was found dead on a trail a week after she'd last contacted her family

Musgrove, 26, had told family that she had reached Potato River Falls (pictured) in the town of Gurney on March 26, according to sheriffs in Iron County

Musgrave, who often posted her outdoor exploits on social media, was found dead a week later

The sheriff's office did not suspect foul play but did not yet give a reason for Musgroves' death

'All indications at the scene and information from family and friends lead us to believe she had gone hiking along Potato River and had not returned to her vehicle,' they wrote.

'We would like to express our sincere condolences to Kelsey's family,' police added.

UW Health, where Musgrove did her fellowship, put out a statement of their own lamenting her death.

'We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Dr. Kelsey Musgrove,' spokesperson Emily Kumlien said. 'She was recognized by her peers as a great surgeon, an outstanding mentor and an incredibly kind and positive spirit. Our thoughts and condolences are with her friends and family during this difficult time.'

Sara Margaret Grossi, a frequent travel companion and close friend of Musgrove, also posted about her grief to her Facebook page.

'I could always cheer her up no matter how big the problem with pistachio ice cream. I can't fix this with a few scoops this time but I can keep loving her even though she's not here to lay under the stars with me anymore and guess constellations. We'll meet again one day in those stars and awkwardly wink at one another and laugh.'

A fellow doctor at UW Health remembered her in another Facebook post.

Post from a good friend of Kelsey Musgrove, Sara Margaret Grossi, someone she travelled often with

Doctors at UW Health also remembered Musgrove as a caring person and beloved colleague

'She was well on her way to becoming a great surgeon,' wrote one co-worker of Musgrove

Statement and photo from the Iron County, WI Sheriff's Office on the disappearance and death of Kelsey Musgrove

'Kelsey Musgrove was one of the kindest and most positive residents I've had the privilege of working with and she was well on her way to becoming a great surgeon,' wrote Aaron Zachary. 'She's gone way too soon and had so much more life to live. May we all remember the kindness she showed us and strive to be great and kind the way she was.'

Jad Sattar added: 'I love you Kelsey. Forever and always. Until we meet again.'

Musgroves often posted herself on hiking trails and in the great outdoors on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. She was also a Black Lives Matter supporter and posted recently about raising money for MS research.