One year later: The search for Lynn Rickard

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58)-- Naked and without oxygen, Lynn Rickard, a Racine County woman, walked away from her Kansasville home a year ago today and hasn't been seen or heard from since. 

“You wake up in the morning and all of a sudden reality sinks in,” said John Rickard, Lynn’s husband.

On June 25, 2017, John's wife of 22 years, climbed out of this window in the middle of night, without clothes or the oxygen she relied on. Police say she was suffering from a mental illness.

“We didn't celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas,” John said. “Just, not much to celebrate, you know?”

John says it's not knowing that's the hardest.

“I look out in the field there and you know, is she still out there?” John said.

Lynn's disappearance led to one of the largest searches in Racine County history. The challenge, though, is that her neighborhood is surrounded by fields and heavily wooded areas.

“The terrain was unreal,” said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling. “We were up to our knees in mud, the cattails were over our head.”

Sheriff Schmaling says more than 120 people searched for days, using dogs, horses, drones and planes.

“I desperately want to bring Lynn, her remains back to the family so they can give her a proper burial and proper closure,” Sheriff Schmaling said.

Crews searched again last fall and search efforts to this day, periodically using cadaver dogs. The Sheriff says there's no evidence of foul play and he believes one day her remains will be found.

In the meantime, John waits, still wearing his wedding ring, hoping one day he’ll have answers.

“I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wife,” John said. “I had the best, you know? I had the best.”

John is offering a reward for anyone with information leading to Lynn.