A search for two women and a 9-year-old who went missing while tubing on a Michigan river ended successfully on Friday afternoon. Authorities confirmed their safe recovery.
The trio was located at 4:36 p.m. by a Michigan State Police K9 team and state conservation officers. They were discovered nearly a mile from a boat launch on the Muskegon River, according to a state police statement. “This is the outcome everyone hoped for,” the agency stated.
The relationship between the two women, both aged 28, and the child remains unclear. The state police did not disclose further details about their condition or the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Before their discovery, the trio was found approximately 11 miles southwest of a different boat launch. A vehicle belonging to one of the women was found there, with a broken window, as reported by state police earlier. The woman’s father discovered the car and notified authorities. By this time, the group had been missing for over 24 hours, with relatives unable to contact them.
On Thursday, two of the tubes and footprints were located, suggesting proximity. Nearly two dozen state police posts, other law enforcement agencies, and government departments supported the search effort, along with volunteer assistance.