FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Update (8/19): Alaskan State Troopers safely located a missing man and woman from Tennessee in the Alaskan wilderness days after their family reported them missing.
The Fairbanks Police Department asked for help from troopers to find Jonas Bare, 50, and Cynthia Hovesepian, 37 on Aug. 12. FPD said officers found their luggage still at their accommodations in Fairbank.
Their family reported them missing after they did not appear for their return flight home. FPD said they checked into an Airbnb on Aug. 9 and were scheduled to check out on Aug. 11. Neither of them had checked out, according to FPD.
Troopers then started investigating leads across interior Alaska, eventually finding their vehicle at Chena Hot Springs Resort 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks.
Authorities called in wilderness search and rescue teams, helicopters, K9 teams, and more to find the two. On Friday, troopers said a pair of hikers found Bare on a trail approximately 200 yards from the hot springs resort. The hikers took him to the search and rescue command post at the resort.
Bare was not hurt, according to troopers. He told them he had left Hovesepian to seek help.
Bare then led troopers and rescuers to the general area where Hovesepian was located, which was approximately 3 miles from the resort. The team was able to locate her safely after calling out for her.
Both Hovesepian and Bare were evaluated by EMS crews at the resort.
"The Alaska Wildlife Troopers would like to thank the professional volunteer search teams and Chena Hot Springs Resort for their assistance with this operation," the Fairbanks Police Department said.
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Original Story:
Alaskan law enforcement said they were searching for a man and woman from Tennessee after they did not appear for a return flight and had not contacted their families.
The Fairbanks Police Department asked the Alaskan State Troopers for help finding Jonas Bare, 50, and Cynthia Hovesepian, 37, on Aug. 12. They said FPD officers found their luggage still at their accommodations in Fairbank. Troopers then started investigating leads across interior Alaska.
On Aug. 12, they found their vehicle at Chena Hot Springs Resort. After finding it, they launched a search-and-rescue operation in the area with helicopters, sUAS, ATVs and professional teams.
FPD said they checked into an Airbnb on Aug. 9 and were scheduled to check out on Aug. 11. Neither of them had checked out, according to FPD.
Anyone with information about Bare or Hovespian's whereabouts should contact the Fairbanks Police Department at 907-450-6500 or email crupe@fairbanks.us.