On Thursday, March 2, 2023, deputies with the Yell County Sheriff’s Office were called to respond to a disturbance that was reported near the intersection of State Highway 27 and Spring Creek Road.Upon the arrival of deputies, they made contact with witnesses who stated that both parties involved had taken off walking in different directions.
Deputies attempted to locate the subjects but were unable to at that time.
Investigators with the Yell County Sheriff’s Office later received information that the female in the disturbance, 19-year-old Megan Black, had not returned home. She had also failed to make contact with any of her family members or friends. A search was attempted, but due to the weather conditions, the search was called off a short time later.
On Friday, March 3rd, the weather conditions had not improved so investigators tried to gather more information and searched what areas they could. The search efforts were hindered in large part by the rising flood waters. The search again was called off.
On Saturday morning, March 4th, Yell County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Robert Cross, Jacob Braden and Sgt. Jesse Keeling, attempted to coordinate search efforts to locate the missing teen. Preparations were made to deploy the sheriff’s office drone and search the areas that were still inaccessible due to the flood waters.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., dispatch received a call that a local property owner had seen someone matching Black’s description, walking through his pasture. Det. Braden and Det. Cross arrived on scene within minutes and made their way through approximately a quarter of a mile of flood water, on foot to her location.
Detectives found Black, soaking wet, dehydrated, and in a state of shock. The deputies attempted to carry Black, but she was in severe pain. They then made their way back to Highway 27 where Pinnacle EMS was waiting and got a backboard. After returning to Black’s location, the teen was then loaded onto the board and the two deputies carried her back out to the waiting ambulance.
Black was airlifted to a neighboring hospital, where she is expected to make a full recovery.
Yell County Sheriff Nick Gault would like to thank all of the officers and volunteers who searched for the missing girl, especially in torrential rains and high winds for nearly two days.
To read the original release, click the link under the title below.
UPDATE: Yell County Sheriff’s Office advises missing female has been located https://www.rivervalleynow.com/life_in_the_valley/update-yell-county-sheriff-s-office-advises-missing-female-has-been-located/article_2ca33622-b97a-11ed-b98a-6752d735f6e0.html