NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Friday, August 18, two hikers located Jonas Bare, one of the Tennessee residents who went missing in Alaska, on a trail near Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Bare was uninjured, and he told troopers he left Cynthia Hovespian, the other missing person who was with him, to find help. Shortly after troopers found Bare, Hovespian was located about 3 miles away from the resort.
Hovespian and Bare were missing for more than six days.
On August 12, the Fairbanks Police Department requested assistance from the Alaska State Troopers on a missing persons case because both Bare and Hovespian were visiting Alaska and had not made their return flight or contacted family.
FPD later located their luggage at the Fairbanks accomodations, and Alaska troopers found their car later that night. The search involved UAS, ATVs, professional search and rescue teams, and K9 teams.
The sister of Hovespian tells Newschannel 5, the pair survived only on water for eight days.
Sabine Miley said Barewent for help and he heard people talking and followed them. That is how he was discovered and they made their way to the Resort to get help and get Hovespian out.
The family wants to express their deepest gratitude to The Alaskan Troopers, especially Trooper Dan Valetine and LT Davis of Fairbanks PD, PAWS rescue and all the other local and otherwise volunteers.
Bare, Hovespian and the rescue teams returned safely to Chena Hot Springs Resort around 8:40 p.m. Friday night.
