Search teams followed small clues to locate missing family alive on Muskegon River
MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Conservation officers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and troopers from the Michigan State Police found a woman, her 9-year-old son and a cousin alive Friday afternoon after three days missing following a tubing trip on the Muskegon River.
Officials said the searchers used traditional tracking techniques and a range of resources — including boats, helicopters, drones and a cadaver canine — but it was the small, physical clues on the ground that ultimately led them to the family.
Investigators say the missing trio—identified by rescuers as Sarah Vida, her son Kayden Kovalcik, 9, and cousin Jasmine Hock—began their trip at the Maple Island Boat Launch in Newaygo County on Tuesday, Aug. 4. They were reported missing the following day, Wednesday, Aug. 5. Search teams located them about a quarter-mile northeast of the Mill Iron Boat Launch in Muskegon County just after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7.
Among the key pieces of evidence that searchers identified were an innertube caught in a log jam, areas of trampled weeds and muddy footprints. DNR conservation officers said those subtle signs — along with their knowledge of the local terrain — directed teams toward the family’s location in dense woods and swampy ground.
“They are often looking for similar evidence,” DNR Conservation Officer Anna Cullen said, referring to tracking people and animals. “The leaves are flipped... steps in the grass... padded-down earth.”
DNR Sgt. Seth Rhodea, who supervises the department’s Law Enforcement Division search and rescue team for southern Michigan, said the department draws on the expertise of local conservation officers as “local terrain experts” when conducting searches.
Duration, survival and resources used
Rescuers reported the group had survived by consuming tree bark, wildflowers and swamp water after their inflatables were destroyed during the tubing trip. At one point during the search, responders consulted a lost-person reference guide that suggested the victims had a less than 10% chance of surviving, making the eventual recovery a notable outcome.
The multi-agency response to the missing-person call included:
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers
- Michigan State Police troopers
- Boats and aircraft support, including helicopters
- Drones for aerial searches
- A cadaver canine unit
Friday was described by DNR Conservation Officer Cameron Wright as “game day” for the search, when investigators concentrated efforts after learning survival odds were perilously low.
Timeline of the incident
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 4 | Trip began at Maple Island Boat Launch, Newaygo County |
| Aug. 5 | Family reported missing |
| Aug. 7 | Located about 0.25 miles NE of Mill Iron Boat Launch, Muskegon County (found just after 4:30 p.m.) |
Local impact and safety reminders
The successful outcome highlights both the value of experienced local officers and the importance of being prepared when recreating on waterways. DNR tracking officers emphasized that the same signs they follow while tracking wildlife — disturbed vegetation, unusual ground impressions and equipment left behind — can point rescuers to people in distress.
Officials did not provide medical condition details for the three found but confirmed they were alive when located. The case serves as a caution for river users to wear life jackets, secure flotation devices, and have communication or tracking devices when venturing into remote stretches of river.
Search-and-rescue operations in Michigan frequently rely on a combination of technology and fieldcraft. This rescue underscores that, even with drones and aircraft, boots-on-the-ground observation and hunting for small, physical clues can be decisive.
Authorities did not release additional information about any follow-up investigation into what led to the inflatables being damaged or to any formal search protocols activated after the initial report.
Local agencies advise anyone planning similar recreational outings to file a float plan with family or friends indicating put-in and take-out locations and expected return times, and to carry appropriate safety equipment.
