GFSO: Missing woman has been found, is safe (Update)

Update 5:30 PM:

Authorities say a missing 18-year-old woman — who left a campground at Grand Forks Air Force Base on Monday — has been found … and is safe.

Hailey Sullivan was found at approximately 3 p.m. today (Wed) near Gilby (ND)… and was reunited with her family.

The news was confirmed by the Grand Forks Air Force Base and the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, which had taken over the investigation on Tuesday.

The Sheriff’s Office got a tip around 12:30 this (Wed) afternoon that Hailey may have been seen three-and-a-half miles west of Gilby on County Road 13 at a farmstead. A search ensued.

County Sheriff Andy Schneider said about two hours later, a farmer south of the farmstead reported seeing Hailey along a coulee. Schneider said officers later spotted Hailey, who has an intellectual disability.

“She was a little scared, so she didn’t run to us; she hid a little bit,” Schneider said. “After we reassured her that she was OK and not in trouble, we got some fluid and food in her and got her back home.”

Schneider said Hailey had left the base on foot, and was trying to get home.

“She remembered being in some places she described to us, obviously in a northwesterly direction from the air base, from what we gathered,” Schneider added. “She was confused and scared and thinking she would probably be in a little trouble. She did have some shelter. She was able to sleep under a shelter Tuesday night and said she slept comfortably, until she resumed trying to find her way home.”

The sheriff said, all things considered, Hailey appeared in good shape.

“She potentially had a sprained ankle. Besides that, it didn’t look like she was eaten up by bugs or anything. She had some scratches on her legs, but nothing serious,” the sheriff said.

Schneider said Hailey was checked out by paramedics and returned to her family.

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Update 4:00 PM:

Officials at the Grand Forks Air Force Base have confirmed that an 18-year-old military dependent– missing since late Monday — has been found … and is safe.

Base officials say 18-year-old Hailey Sullivan was found at approximately 3 p.m. today (Wed) near Gilby (ND)… and after a precautionary medical examination, she has been reunited with her family.

The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, which had taken over the investigation, also confirmed the news.

Earlier this (Wed) afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office said a search was on after a report that Hailey may have been seen around 12:30… some three-and-a-half miles west of Gilby on County Road 13 at a farmstead.

Air Force officials said yesterday (Tue) that Hailey apparently left a family campground on the base…and noted that she has an intellectual disability.

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Statement from GFAFB:

Hailey R. Sullivan, the teen missing since the night of July 11, 2022 has been found safe.
The missing teenager was found at approximately 3 p.m. on the afternoon of July 13th, 2022 near Gilby, ND. After a precautionary medical examination, Hailey is now reunited with her family.
A base-wide grid search was conducted Tuesday for the missing 18-year old military dependent after she left the family campground at Grand Forks Air Force Base sometime between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.

“This reunion would not have been possible without the hard work and coordination efforts between our base Security Forces, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, US Customs and Border Protection, the Grand Forks Police Department’s Unmanned Aerial System unit, Emerado Police
Department, military members with their families and Altru,” said Col. Jeremy Fields, 319 Reconnaissance Wing Vice Commander.

“We are especially thankful for the public vigilance which assisted in locating Hailey. Good neighbors once again proved this is a wonderful community to be a part of.”

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Original post:

The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office says a woman reported missing by the Grand Forks Air Force Base was possibly seen near Gilby at about 12:30 PM.

In a social media post, The S-O says 18-year-old Hailey Sullivan may have been seen three-and-a-half miles west of Gilby on County Road 13 at a farmstead.

Authorities were notified at about 1:00 PM… and have been searching the area by vehicle, foot, and air.

The Sheriff’s Office says, anyone living in the Gilby area should check their property and buildings. If you see Hailey, you’re asked to call 9-1-1.

Hailey is 5-foot-2 with brown hair and glasses. She was wearing a gray sweatshirt, jean shorts, white tennis shoes and a white cowboy hat.

The Air Base says she is a military dependent who left a family campground on the base between Monday night and Tuesday morning. She has an intellectual disability and responds to the nickname Hei-Hei (pronounced “hey hey”)

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(Photo: GFAFB)