Mom, 8-year-old reported missing near hiking trail are found safe, NC officials say
Update: As of about 1:25 p.m. April 25, Caldwell County officials said the mother and child who became separated from their family were found safe.
Original story: A mom and her 8-year-old son were hiking when they vanished over the weekend, North Carolina officials said.
Now, the search is underway for the missing hikers, identified in a news release as April and Desmond Tester.
Caldwell County said its emergency management department is looking near Harper Creek Trail, in the Lenoir area and roughly 90 miles northwest of Charlotte.
The Testers were last seen at about 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 24. That’s when the two “split from their family at the trailhead” and “never met back with them,” according to officials.
“Mother and son are novice hikers and were not dressed for an overnight stay,” the county said in its news release. “The mother was in shorts, pink tank top, and flip flops. Her son was wearing black shorts, T-shirt, and sneakers.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Mom, 8-year-old reported missing near hiking trail are found safe, NC officials say."
