Missing Butte woman found safe nine hours after she was last seen

A community member found a missing elderly woman walking near his property on South Mitzi Circle at 11:27 p.m. Friday, nine hours after she was last seen safe.

The woman had wandered from her Butte residence and was last seen at about 2:30 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers said. She carried no cellphone or other trackable device. Troopers received the report at about 5 p.m. Conditions were about 77 degrees and sunny. She had no obvious injuries. Troopers drove her home, where emergency medical services responded to evaluate her.

The search drew crews from across the borough. Mat-Su Borough fire personnel, thermal-equipped drone operators from the Wasilla and Palmer police departments, MATSAR search-and-rescue volunteers and Solstice K-9 teams took part. They searched residences, roadways, businesses, wooded and ATV trails, Bodenburg Creek, the Jim Creek area, the Butte Municipal Airport and the Old Glenn Highway corridor. Butte residents posted notices on social media, searched trails and reported possible sightings before a Silver Alert was issued. Troopers and the agencies involved thanked the public for helping find her.

Alaska's Silver Alert system notifies the public when a vulnerable adult is missing and believed to be in serious danger. State public safety guidance says there is no waiting period to report a missing person.