Mother says woman missing from ferry likely wandering around Seattle

The mother of a Spokane woman who vanished from a state ferry Monday, prompting a search of Puget Sound, says her daughter is likely wandering around Seattle.

The Coast Guard said Tuesday they now believe Amy Story walked off the ferry in Seattle, leaving behind her car. Story, 27, who suffers from bipolar disorder, likely is not taking her medication, her mother said.

"She's not dangerous to anybody," Linda Myers said by telephone Tuesday morning from her home in Spokane. "She doesn't get angry or mean, but she could be walking around incoherently.

"She might be walking up to people and saying, 'I love you,' or things like that," Myers added.

Story had been visiting her grandfather in Sequim for Father's Day, Myers said. She drove her Mitsubishi Galant aboard the M/V Tacoma at the Winslow ferry terminal on Bainbridge Island for the 2:55 p.m. sailing to Seattle on Monday.

After the ferry arrived at Seattle's Colman Dock at about 3:30 p.m., state ferry workers found Story's car abandoned in an upper wing area of the vessel. Authorities traced the car's registration to Story and noted several personal items in the car belonging to her, State Patrol troopers said.

The Coast Guard searched Puget Sound by air and by sea but suspended the search late Monday.

"It's apparent she's been off of her medicine, and she's hearing voices constantly, occupying her attention," Myers said.

Story is a white female, 5 feet 6 and 230 pounds, with medium-length straight brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a green striped sweater and bluejeans, troopers say.

"At some point, she may come out of it and think clear for a few minutes," Myers said. "I would guess if that happens she'll probably head back to the ferry dock."

Lewis Kamb: 206-464-2341 or lkamb@seattletimes.com