Hilda Sossong, an 86-year-old woman who had gone missing in Portage, Pennsylvania, was found on Wednesday, according to authorities.
Sossong, who was reported missing on Monday, reportedly “wandered away” from an old farm property on Patricks Road in Munster Township, Cambria County, according to a public information release from Pennsylvania State Police sent to Newsweek.
The Context
Sossong’s family told ABC23 that they are “overjoyed” that she was located and thank all who helped with the search and the community for their support.
According to WJAC, rescuers stated Sossong’s dementia put her at risk during the multi-day search.
What To Know
Pennsylvania State Police rushed to Patricks Road on Monday after receiving a request to help locate Sossong. Police suspect she went missing between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
The hunt involved hundreds of volunteers, Pennsylvania State Police, a tracking team from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and K-9 units, according to the Altoona Mirror.
WJAC reports that troopers used adjacent home surveillance cameras and cellular information to aid in the hunt.
Nina Wolf of the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group’s northern rescue squad told the Altoona Mirror that the search spanned a wide range of terrain and required a variety of resources.
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Police announced on X that Sossong had been located. Authorities say they have canceled the Missing Endangered Person Advisory.
In a Facebook post, the Keystone Regional Fire & Rescue Department stated that Sossong was discovered “alive and well.”
Sossong’s son, Gerard, discovered her resting on a log off Spinner Road in Munster Township, according to the Altoona Mirror. Sossong’s grandson informed ABC23 that the location had already been searched by rescue teams.
