Woman Found Alive After Weeks Lost in California Wilderness [WATCH]

A 27-year-old woman from Georgia who vanished in the California mountains nearly three weeks ago was found alive this week after surviving on wild leeks and taking shelter in an unlocked cabin designed for emergencies, as reported by The New York Post.

Tiffany Slaton, of Jeffersonville, Georgia, was reported missing on April 29 after she was last seen five days earlier on April 24.

Tiffany Slaton, the 27-year-old Georgia woman who was missing for nearly three weeks in remote California wilderness, has been found alive. https://t.co/WmFgXb1HUH

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) May 16, 2025

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Her disappearance launched a massive search effort across more than 600 square miles of rugged terrain in the Sierra National Forest, led by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

The rescue came just in time for Slaton’s 28th birthday, and her survival has been credited in large part to a decision made by a local resort owner to leave cabin doors unlocked during the off-season.

Christopher Gutierrez, who owns the Vermilion Valley Resort in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, discovered Slaton after arriving at the property on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming season. Upon arrival, Gutierrez noticed a front door ajar and a pair of shoes nearby.

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“She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug,” Gutierrez said during a press conference. “It was a pretty surreal moment, and that’s when I realized who this was.”

Gutierrez explained that he keeps certain cabins open during the winter months in case stranded hikers need shelter from harsh conditions. “It’s mainly for people, just as this scenario played out, if they need to hole up in there one of shelter then it’s available,” he said.

Slaton told Gutierrez that she had survived by eating wild leeks and had made it to the cabin after pushing through a blizzard. He provided her with food, including a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, before emergency responders transported her to a local hospital.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported that Slaton was in good condition aside from dehydration. Authorities had recently scaled back the search just days before she was located.

Slaton’s parents, Bobby and Fredrina, said they were beginning to lose hope before receiving a phone call from their daughter.

“She said, ‘Dad, I’m alive, and I’m sorry, but I’m alive and I wanted to call you and let you know I’m alive,’” said Bobby Slaton, visibly emotional at the press conference.

Fredrina added, “I grabbed somebody and said, ‘Can I hug you?’ And I did. I was crying and hugging.”

The sheriff’s office has not yet released further details on how Slaton ended up at the resort and said they plan to interview her in the coming days. “Three weeks, it’s unheard of,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti. “It speaks to the tenacity that Tiffany has, that she’s a fighter.”

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