MESA, AZ — Mesa police say four people who were reported missing after not returning from a camping trip have been found safe.
Police say Korie Gilmore, 24; Shelby Berry, 25; Hannah Gilmore, 17; and Tenaya Gilmore, 15, were last seen on March 21 near McKellips and Gilbert roads.
Family members eventually located them trapped in snow in Gila County. The group has been reunited with family and is safe.
The group tells ABC15 they ran into problems on Sunday when they were supposed to head home.
"We were down Young Road pretty far down, and it just started snowing the last night there," said Shelby Berry. "We packed up the car thinking we could make it out, it didn’t look bad, but we lost traction and slid in a snow bank."
The group of four and their three dogs were left scared and stranded in the snow. With no cell service, the group told ABC15 they spent the night in the back of the car hoping someone would eventually find them.
"We had half a tank of gas and some hot dogs and buns, and that’s kind of what we did for the night," said Berry.
On Monday morning Korie said she and Tenaya hiked miles trying to get reception. At one point, they were finally able to make a 911 call.
"They couldn’t hear me very well, but I just repeated the important things and hoped that they would hear," said Korie.
When the teen's parents didn't hear from the group Sunday, they called Mesa police.
Hannah and Tenaya's sister and brother-in-law, Riley and Andy Garcia drove up north to search as well on Monday morning. The pair were in the area when the 911 call came in. Ultimately law enforcement along with information and help from people in the area led the family to the group
"I was very thankful and very grateful," said Riley.
"We were thinking the worst and hoping for the best," said Andy.
The family adamantly thanked everyone in the community who reached out to help make the reunion possible. The teen's parents told ABC15 they are also proud of Hannah, Tenaya, Shelby, and Korie.
"All of that came together but at the core of it, four girls who worked together," said the teen's dad Todd Gilmore.
