Missing Georgia Woman Found Alive in California Cabin

A woman from Georgia, who had been missing for three weeks while hiking near California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, has been found alive in a cabin, according to Fresno County officials.

The Sierra Nevada region, located on California’s eastern edge, is known for its rugged terrain. Tiffany Slaton, 27, from Jeffersonville, Georgia, was reported missing by her family on April 29 after they hadn’t heard from her for nine days—something they noted was unusual for her.

Authorities announced that Slaton was discovered after she had stopped at Kaiser Pass to check on a property. The owner realized she had been living in one of the cabins.

Christopher Gutierrez, the resort’s owner, stated, “We were able to unlock the cabin as a precaution against this precise situation that could increase the chances of people who lost them seeking shelter and surviving the harsh weather.”

When found, Slaton was extremely dehydrated but otherwise in good condition. She was transported to a hospital for observation.

During the investigation, police determined that she was last seen on April 20 at Huntington Lake, about 65 miles east of Fresno. Four days later, she was spotted at a general store 20 miles west of there, but after that, authorities lost track of her.

A comprehensive search started in early May, covering nearly 600 miles from Mono Hot Springs to Wishan Reservoir and Pineflat Lake to Auberry. However, the search efforts were scaled back before reaching Kaiser Pass. Despite helicopter surveys, there were no signs of Slaton.

It wasn’t until Wednesday when snow plows cleared Kaiser Pass that Gutierrez could access his property, leading to Slaton’s discovery in his shed.

“We see the door open, I see some shoes there and say, ‘OK, that’s a hiker who decided to hold on to the snowstorm we had that night,'” Gutierrez recalled. “As soon as we start making a path there, Tiffany comes out and she’s startled. She jumps out, doesn’t say a word, and all she wanted was a hug.”

Slaton’s parents were notified of her safe return.

“It’s hard to contain tears and excitement in the middle of a shopping trip to receive such a call about Tiffany,” her father shared.

“For me, I just saw a woman there,” her mother added. “Bobby was crying, confused, and he reached out, saying, ‘Can I hold you close?’ And I was crying too.”

According to the sheriff’s office, while there have been several cases of hikers surviving harsh conditions in the Sierra, none have been missing for as long as Slaton.

“Two days, nine days—that’s impressive. But three weeks? That’s just unprecedented,” said Tony Botty, a spokesman for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.