Two men take unexpected trail, discover missing Minnesota woman trapped in mud for three days

A Minnesota woman who disappeared while driving in early June was found alive after spending three days trapped in a muddy, remote area, thanks to two off-road riders who unexpectedly altered their usual route and came across her.

According to information reported by PEOPLE, 68-year-old Kathryn Woessner had been reported missing after she was last seen on June 3 near the intersection of State Highway 64 and State Highway 87, south of Akeley, Minnesota. Authorities launched a search effort after her disappearance, but her whereabouts remained unknown for several days.

The breakthrough came three days later when Adam Sandbeck and Mark Gravalin, both from West Fargo, North Dakota, were riding utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) near Backus, Minnesota. The location where they found Woessner was reportedly about 100 miles from the area where she had last been seen.


As reported by PEOPLE, the two men later explained that several unusual decisions led them to the discovery. Instead of following familiar trails and riding separately as they normally would, they chose to travel together and explore unfamiliar paths. That decision brought them onto a muddy trail filled with obstacles, including potholes and fallen trees.

"What’s so crazy about how that all happened is we usually take our own machines. We usually have two machines. We usually stay on the routes that we’re familiar with," Sandbeck told Enterprise. "We’re usually going through pretty fast because we like to slip and slide around. But, for some reason, I decided to ride with Mike."

"And for some reason, we decided to go and try to find new trails. And for some reason, we went down that trail.”


While navigating the area, they noticed what initially appeared to be an unusual object in a large mud-filled section of the trail. As they approached, they realized a person was trapped and calling for assistance.

Woessner had become stuck after slipping into a deep mud-filled area near her vehicle. She reportedly compared the conditions to quicksand, explaining that once she lost her footing, escaping became nearly impossible.

The prolonged ordeal left her exposed to the elements for approximately three days. Reports indicated she suffered significant sun exposure and dehydration while waiting for help. Despite the difficult conditions, she remained alive and conscious when rescuers reached her.

Sandbeck and Gravalin immediately shifted their focus from recreation to rescue. After pulling Woessner from the mud, they contacted emergency services and remained with her until first responders arrived.

Authorities were able to locate the pair through their emergency call, and paramedics reportedly reached the scene within minutes. Woessner was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Investigators have not publicly explained how she traveled such a significant distance from the location where she was last seen before becoming stranded. The circumstances that led to her vehicle ending up in the remote area remain under investigation.