27-year-old located near Lake Edison after nearly three weeks missing
Tiffany Slaton, a Bermudian woman from Georgia, who had been missing for more than two weeks after a solo-camping adventure, has been found safe in a remote area of California.
The 27-year-old was discovered Wednesday afternoon near Lake Edison in Fresno County, after the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort came across one of his cabins unexpectedly occupied.
“The owner was aware of an ongoing search for a missing woman and she matched the description,” the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said. “He immediately contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report his discovery.”
Deputies met the resort owner at the staging point along Kaiser Pass Road after he had driven Tiffany out to meet them. Medics were also on scene and confirmed that Ms Slaton was dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition. She was transported to a hospital for further treatment and observation.
The discovery marked the end of a large-scale search that began after Ms Slaton’s family, based in Georgia, reported her missing on April 29. She had last been in contact on April 20, after heading out on a solo camping trip in the Shaver Lake area.
“It is important to note that the road from Kaiser Pass back to Lake Edison was impassable due to the snowpack,” the Sheriff’s Office noted. “Snowplows cleared the road on Wednesday, which allowed the resort owner to access his property so he could begin preparations to open it up to the public for the summer season.”
The owner had intentionally left a cabin unlocked for emergency situations such as this. “He said he had left a cabin unlocked as a precaution for this exact situation where someone who is lost could seek shelter and increase their chances of surviving the outdoor elements and harsh weather.”
From May 6 to 10, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team conducted a full-scale operation, covering nearly 600 square miles – from Mono Hot Springs to Wishon Reservoir, Pine Flat Lake to Auberry. Despite helicopter surveillance of the Mono Hot Springs and Lake Edison areas, there were no sightings of Ms Slaton or her belongings during that time.
Detectives had previously confirmed sightings of Tiffany at Huntington Lake on April 20 and again near the old Cressman’s General Store on April 24.
Authorities are now arranging to meet with Slaton to better understand her experience and timeline of events during the weeks she was missing.
Her parents, who had remained in Georgia, were notified immediately after deputies confirmed her identity.
