A Georgia woman missing for nearly three weeks in rugged central California mountains was found alive Wednesday, ending an intensive search that spanned hundreds of square miles.
The breakthrough came when the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort, who was checking on his property following the clearing of snow-blocked roads, found Slaton near one of his cabins.
Gutierrez, who had intentionally left a cabin unlocked as a precaution for lost hikers, immediately called police after realizing she was the lost hiker.
Deputies met Gutierrez and Slaton at a staging point on Kaiser Pass Road, where medics examined her before taking her to a hospital for a closer look, according to the sheriff’s office.
Slaton’s family, who had not heard from her for nine days, reported her missing on April 29, sparking a search and rescue operation that covered nearly 600 square miles.
The search effort included ground teams and helicopter flyovers, but deep snow on Kaiser Pass made it difficult to reach critical areas, authorities said.
Slaton’s parents, Bobby and Fredrina Slaton, described the emotional rollercoaster of learning their daughter had been found alive.
“This has to be the third or fourth best day of our lives after our children's birth. So we are extremely excited and happy to hear the news that my daughter is now safe,” Bobby Slaton said in the same video shared by the sheriff’s office.
Fredrina Slaton described the moment when she heard the news while shopping for clothes in a retail store, saying that she grabbed the first person she saw nearby and gave them a big hug.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
During her ordeal, Slaton survived on water from streams. Her first meal after being found was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which she specifically requested. Luckily, Gutierrez had just returned from a grocery run.“All she wanted was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And we happened to have made a grocery run the day before picking up supplies for the resort,” he said. “She ate as much peanut butter and jellies as she could.”
Detectives are continuing to work with Slaton to piece together her timeline and the details of her survival. Her family, meanwhile, is celebrating her safe return, which coincides with her birthday on Friday.
“This is one of the best birthday presents that Tiffany could receive, because tomorrow is her birthday,” Bobby Slaton said, noting that his birthday is also next week.