In a surprising turn of events, a North Carolina woman, Kelsey Pittman, who had been missing for nine months, was found alive in Colorado. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office in California announced the news on Tuesday, expressing relief at the discovery. Pittman’s disappearance had remained a mystery since her car was found abandoned near Death Valley National Park in California.
The authorities have not disclosed any details about the circumstances surrounding Pittman’s disappearance or her whereabouts during the nine-month period. In a bid to respect her privacy and that of her family, the police have decided not to release any further information.
Pittman, 33, was reported missing by her family in November 2024. The last known contact she had with law enforcement was in Utah, according to a statement by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office in May. Her car was discovered in a remote area off Highway 190, known as “Slab City,” on February 9, 2025. This secluded spot, located outside the park’s boundaries, is private property often used by campers during the winter months.
Despite extensive ground and aerial searches, the authorities were unable to find any additional physical evidence related to her disappearance. The vehicle, a 2009 Chevrolet HHR, was confirmed to be registered to Pittman. However, a thorough search of the vehicle and the surrounding area yielded no clues about her whereabouts, prompting an extensive missing person investigation and search effort.
From February to June 2025, various search teams, including drone teams, cadaver dog handlers, and volunteer search and rescue crews, were deployed to find Pittman. Their efforts, however, were in vain until Tuesday’s unexpected discovery.
Pittman’s case is not an isolated one. There have been several instances of missing individuals being found alive in recent months. For instance, hiker Tiffany Slaton was found in May 2025, three weeks after she went missing in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Slaton survived a blizzard by taking shelter in an unlocked cabin at a closed resort.