Missing Palmer woman found alive

PALMER — A 59-year-old Palmer-area woman missing since Friday afternoon was found alive Saturday night and relatively unharmed near a gravel pit south of her residence.

Theresa Mayo was cold and dehydrated from being outside for about 36 hours and was transported by local medical response personnel to Mat-Su Regional Hospital for treatment, Alaska State Troopers report.

Mayo was first reported missing by a family member to the Palmer Police Department at 3:30 p.m., Friday, according to an AST statement. She was seen at about 11:45 a.m. that day.

A search of the area by AST and the MAT SAR Search and Rescue, which included three K9 teams and 10 ground searchers, turned up nothing.

The search ended Saturday when volunteers located Mayo about 10 p.m., Saturday, troopers report.

This was at least the second time in about 18 months officials have orchestrated a search for the Palmer woman.

According to AST records, Mayo’s family reported she left home Nov. 24, 2013, in clothes insufficient for the weather.

Alaska State Troopers, Palmer police and other searches combed the area and found her — very cold, but OK — about a mile from home.