An Indiana mother who vanished after a fire at her home last week has been found alive in a wooded area near her residence, ending a days-long search that drew concern across her community.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 46-year-old Britney Gard was located around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, roughly two and a half miles from her Bainbridge home. Authorities said Gard herself called 911 from the Hall Woods Nature Preserve, telling dispatchers she needed help finding her way out. Deputies quickly located her and took her to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Her current condition has not been released.
Gard had been missing since September 30, one day before a fire broke out at her home. Firefighters responded to the property on the evening of October 1 after neighbors reported seeing smoke. Crews extinguished the flames, which were contained to one section of the house, but Gard was nowhere to be found. Investigators deemed the fire “suspicious in nature.”
The discovery of Gard’s car, purse and identification still inside the home added to concerns that something was wrong. Her family said she had made plans to attend her 13-year-old daughter’s volleyball game the following day but never arrived. When her daughter returned home after the match, she was met by state police and firefighters who told her that her mother was missing.
For days, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, state police and volunteers combed the surrounding rural area, including cornfields and ponds, using drones and other technology-based tools to search for any sign of Gard. Her four sisters traveled from across the country to help with the effort. Family members described Gard as a devoted mother and longtime postal worker who was deeply involved in her children’s lives.
Her brother-in-law, Kenny Bowen, told reporters the family was alarmed by the lack of clues. Gard’s sister, Stephanie Bowen, siad Gard’s disappearance “makes no sense” given that she left behind all her personal belongings. He said there were no indications that she planned to leave or go off the grid.
Authorities have not said how Gard ended up in the wooded preserve or what occurred during the time she was missing. The sheriff’s office said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public, but investigators continue to review the events surrounding both her disappearance and the fire.
Officials said their focus now is to confirm all details of the case and bring full closure to the incident. While many questions remain, Gard’s family expressed relief that she was found alive after nearly a week of uncertainty.
Sources: NBC News (1), NBC News (2), WKRC
