Missing Alexandria Woman Found Alive After Three Days
On June 6, 2024, 68-year-old Kathryn Jane Woessner of Alexandria, Minnesota, was discovered alive west of Backus—approximately 80 miles from her home. She had been missing since June 3 and was the subject of an endangered missing person investigation.
Rescue Details
Two friends, Adam Sandbeck and Mike Gravalin, discovered Woessner while riding off-road vehicles through flooded trails. They spotted her van in a remote area and found Woessner nearly completely submerged in mud beside the vehicle. She whispered for help.
The men pulled her from the mud and called 911, providing GPS coordinates from their off-road vehicle to help responders locate them. Woessner told them she fell into the muddy pool and became trapped, describing it as "like quicksand."
Aftermath
Woessner was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Her condition was not immediately available.
Response
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office thanked the Hubbard County Sheriff's Office, Alexandria Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Cass County Sheriff's Office for their assistance.
"She whispered for help."