“Cave Mountain” links lost girl to a ’70s cult killing in Arkansas

Published March 9, 2026 By admin

A quarter-century after 6-year-old Haley Zega vanished in the Ozarks, her cousin revisits the story in a new book that connects the disappearance to a 1978 murder.

The big picture: Part folksy family tale, part journalistic deep dive and part ghost story, “Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks” by Benjamin Hale was released last week.

The narrative, set in Arkansas’ vast natural beauty, could draw renewed national interest in Zega’s odyssey and a cult murder few living here now know about.

Driving the news: Beginning at 6pm Tuesday, Hale will read from his book at the Fayetteville Public Library, followed by a Q&A. Zega will be present to talk about her experience.

Hale had the support and permission of Zega and the family to write the book.

Flashback: In April 2001, Zega went hiking on the Hawksbill Crag trail with her grandparents. She became separated, left the trail and wandered the Upper Buffalo Wilderness for three days.

She climbed down into the valley, while hundreds of people looked near the trail above.

cults

Read more https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/09/cave-mountain-links-lost-girl-to-a-70s-cult-killing-in-arkansas

Content retrieved from: https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/09/cave-mountain-links-lost-girl-to-a-70s-cult-killing-in-arkansas.