4 missing Mesa campers have been found, police say. Here's what we know
Mesa police said four people who were missing after a group went on a camping trip Thursday were found safely and reunited with family.
The group was found in Gila County stuck in the snow, according to Mesa police Detective Richard Encinas.
Mesa police said the four were originally reported missing after family members' phone calls went unanswered.
Police said Shelby Berry, 25; Korie Gilmore, 24; Hannah Gilmore, 17; and Tenya Gilmore, 15; were last seen in the area of McKellips and Gilbert roads in north Mesa at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The group was going on a tent camping trip in the Payson area, police said. The group was driving a red Kia Sportage and preferred to camp in secluded areas, according to police.
Police said the group was first reported as missing on Sunday around 10 p.m. by the group's family who could not reach the group when they failed to return per schedule between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Mesa police sent the information of the missing person's case to Payson Police Department, Gila County Sheriff's Office, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
On Monday morning, police received a call from one of the missing people, who explained the Kia got stuck in the snow and they had been dealing with a bad cellphone signal since Sunday.
Gila County Sheriff's Office was able to confirm the location of the group and headed to the scene. But the group was rescued by family members who left the stuck vehicle behind.
"All four people were reported to be in good health and no longer wanted police assistance," said Detective Richard Encinas of the Mesa Police Department.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Missing Mesa camping group found safe, police say
