California mom and son used handwritten notes to lead rescuers to their location in a remote forest
The Sacramento duo had set off for what was supposed to be a straightforward trip to Boy Scout Camp Wolfeboro, just a few hours from their home. They packed all the usual camping essentials – tents, bedding and plenty of water – to prepare for a few days of outdoor adventure.
Like many travelers, Laird trusted the GPS app on her phone. She plugged in the directions to the camp and followed the route as it led her off California Highway 44 down a rugged dirt road. At first, she wasn't concerned because the camp director had warned parents the drive could be rough.
But after 30 minutes of bouncing along isolated back roads with the camp still eight miles away, Laird realized they were dangerously off course.
Trying to retrace her steps only made matters worse. Every turn and new road only created confusion in the maze of dirt paths. Her sedan, ill-equipped for the rugged terrain, bottomed out repeatedly, forcing Laird and Stirling to dig the car out with sticks and move rocks by hand.
Eventually, the vehicle broke down, leaving them stranded as nightfall crept in.
Survival instincts kick in
With no working car or cell service, Laird knew she had to stay calm for both of them. She attempted to call 911 18 times but without a signal, every call failed. Stirling, pulling from his Boy Scout training, blew his whistle, one of the six essential items scouts are always taught to carry.
As darkness fell, Laird made an important choice. Despite having camping gear, she decided it was safer to sleep in the car for protection from potential predators. She left the hazard lights flashing all night, hoping someone might pass by and stumble upon them.
While Stirling tossed and turned, waking up disoriented throughout the night, Laird didn't sleep at all.
'I just stared at the sky all night hoping that a helicopter would come,' Laird said.
By morning, they were determined to find a way out. Laird's greatest fear was getting separated from the car and becoming even more lost in the woods. Thinking quickly, she grabbed a bedsheet and a pair of scissors, cutting the fabric into strips and tying them to branches along their path to mark the way back.
When they reached a stretch of flatter road, they left handwritten notes under rocks, explaining they were lost and needed help if anyone passed through the area.
'Me and my son are stranded with no service and can't call 911,' one of the notes said. 'We are ahead, up the road to the right.'
Throughout the day, Laird and Stirling continued their exhausting efforts, exploring possible routes to safety and even planning to take a steeper path the next morning if no one arrived.
To keep Stirling calm, Laird suggested they play cards together to pass the time before settling in for another night in the car.
Then, they heard it.
'I was trying to stay so strong for you out there'
At first, it seemed like wishful thinking. Laird and Sterling had misinterpreted sounds before – the rumble of a distant plane mistaken for a helicopter, the sound of rushing water they hoped meant they were near Wolfeboro.
But this time, it was a car horn. In the distance, Laird spotted a rescue truck.
'Tears started falling,' Laird said. 'It was such a happy moment to see that truck.'
The location was so isolated, the Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue team needed to use an amateur radio frequency to communicate, as conventional radios and cell phones were unable to connect, according to a Facebook post from the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office.
The rescue team applauded Laird for her instincts, telling her she'd done everything right. Her fiance also shared her last known location with the rescuers, speeding up their search process.
'We were definitely a good team out there,' Laird said, crediting Stirling for keeping her calm. 'He kept trying to keep me positive because I kept saying things like, 'I don't think we're going to get rescued,' or 'Our only hope is a helicopter, and I don't think a helicopter is going to come.''
Since returning home, Laird says she plans to keep an emergency kit in her vehicle and travel with a physical map if there's a chance she may be heading into more remote areas.
Still, after more than 24 hours of survival mode, Laird felt the emotional toll catch up to her.
'I just started crying, and I apologized to my son, saying, 'I'm so sorry that I'm crying like this, I was trying to stay so strong for you out there,' and he said the same thing, 'I was trying to stay strong for you,'' Laird said.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
4 North Korean agents infiltrated Atlanta man's business as remote workers, gaining his trust — then stole $1M
It sounds like the plot of an action-thriller, but for one Atlanta tech entrepreneur, an elaborate cryptocurrency theft involving North Korean assets became his reality. 'It felt like I was in a movie,' Marlon Williams told Channel 2 News (WSB-TV). 'That's where we see these things, right?' Rather than a phishing scam with criminals pretending to be a bank or government agency and requiring payment in cryptocurrency to 'solve' an 'urgent' issue, this was a long con orchestrated over two years. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Williams thought he had hired remote IT workers for his Atlanta-based blockchain research and development company, Starter Labs. Instead, the 'workers' were North Korean nationals using stolen identities, according to the FBI. After gaining his trust, they were able to infiltrate the business, eventually making off with just over $1 million in cryptocurrency. The unfolding of a long con Four men — Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju and Chang Nam Il — have been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, according to a now unsealed federal criminal indictment. This is part of a larger investigation by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into North Korea's so-called remote IT worker program in which skilled North Korean agents infiltrate American companies using a mix of stolen and fake identities. Using the stolen identities of at least 80 Americans, North Korean agents have been able to find remote work at more than 100 American companies and then steal and launder virtual currency, according to the DOJ. This money is used to generate revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its weapons program. Williams was one of those targets. He hired one of the men — who reached out through the Telegram app via a fake identity — to work on a project. Williams was impressed with his work, telling Channel 2 News he was 'super-duper talented.' So Williams hired him for more projects, eventually promoting him to the role of chief technology officer and allowing him to hire additional staff. The con took place over about two years during which time he gained Williams' trust. 'He had the power to create malicious code that he installed and that allowed him to withdraw the funds completely,' Williams said. 'The threat posed by DPRK operatives is both real and immediate. Thousands of North Korean cyber operatives have been trained and deployed by the regime to blend into the global digital workforce and systematically target U.S. companies,' U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said in a statement. The investigation into North Korean criminal activity has so far resulted in an arrest, two indictments, searches of 29 'laptop farms' across 16 states and 'the seizure of 29 financial accounts used to launder illicit funds and 21 fraudulent websites,' according to the DOJ. The four North Koreans are now wanted by the FBI, but they're not in the U.S. They were allegedly working out of the United Arab Emirates with North Korean travel documents. As for their victims? It's incredibly difficult to recover virtual currency and there's usually no insurance for lost or stolen cryptocurrencies. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. How to protect yourself from crypto risks When it comes to cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, industry regulations are still being developed. Since crypto doesn't require an intermediary (like a bank), it can also be used by criminals to hide their activities. While we could see the passage of the GENIUS Act in the second half of 2025 — designed to regulate the digital currency industry — some critics say it will make the financial system less stable. As an asset class, it's considered to be volatile since its value is often based on market sentiment. For investors, that means it can offer big rewards, but it can also result in big losses. Many financial advisors consider it a 'discretionary' investment — meaning don't invest what you can't afford to lose. Cryptocurrencies aren't like stocks — or even cold, hard cash, for that matter. The money in your bank account is regulated and insured, but there's no enforceable regulations or insurance for lost or stolen cryptocurrencies. 'Cryptocurrency held in accounts is not insured by a government like U.S. dollars deposited into an FDIC insured bank account. If something happens to your account or cryptocurrency funds — for example, the company that provides storage for your wallet goes out of business or is hacked — the government has no obligation to step in and help get your money back,' warns the Federal Trade Commission. For individuals, staying safe means keeping your wallet keys private. Ignore cold calls about crypto investment opportunities and any 'too good to be true' offers. If you're experiencing high-pressure tactics, keep in mind that fraudsters often use a sense of urgency as part of their scam. For businesses, FBI Atlanta suggests using additional layers of scrutiny in the hiring process for remote IT workers. Specifically, the FBI recommends using identity-verification processes 'during interviewing, onboarding and throughout the employment of any remote worker,' as well as cross-checking HR systems for other applicants with the same resume content. In addition, 'complete as much of the hiring and onboarding process as possible in person.' That's something Williams is considering. 'Going back to the fundamentals of business, meeting you face-to-face and looking in your eye, shaking your hand, that really matters," he told Channel 2 News, "even in these new industries that are developing." If you suspect you're the victim of a similar scam, report the activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
8 minutes ago
- Fox News
Interview with brother of MLK killer heard in newly released files
The U.S. released a law enforcement interview with Jerry Ray, brother of Martin Luther King assassin James Earl Ray, recorded after the killing. (National Archives)
CBS News
9 minutes ago
- CBS News
Woman who killed her infant son in 1986 in Connecticut avoids prison
A woman who killed her infant son in 1986 in Connecticut and went on to live a seemingly quiet, normal life with her family in Florida for three decades was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation. Janita Phillips, 65, of Lake Mary, Florida, was charged with murder in 2021, after police said new DNA testing linked her to the crime. She pleaded guilty to a lesser manslaughter charge in April. The probation sentence was unusual in a child homicide case, but warranted because a peer-reviewed psychological assessment concluded Phillips experienced "extreme emotional distress" at the time of the killing, both the prosecutor and defense lawyer said. Judge Gary White in Stamford, Connecticut, called it a case deserving mercy. When Phillips killed the infant, she and her husband had just moved into an apartment in Greenwich, Connecticut, with their eldest child after being homeless and her husband had told her he didn't want another baby, her lawyer, Stephen DeLeo, said. The couple, who remain together and have been married for 42 years, were stressed about money and their ability to feed their family, DeLeo said. Phillips told police she hid the pregnancy from her husband and other relatives, an arrest warrant said. Police said her husband did not know about the baby's death and had no involvement. Phillips and her husband have three children who are now adults. One of their sons is disabled and resides at an assistant living facility, while her husband has medical problems and she takes care of him, DeLeo said in an interview. "Incarcerating her would serve no purpose at this time," DeLeo said, adding that this case was Phillips' only brush with the law in her life. He also said she lost her insurance industry job because of the case. Phillips cried during the sentencing hearing and said she had a "deep sense of regret." She also said she took full responsibility, DeLeo said. Under her sentence, if she violates probation she could face up to 20 years in prison. The newborn child, named Baby John by police, was found dead in a garbage truck on May 16, 1986, after workers had emptied a dumpster at the apartment building in Greenwich where Phillips lived, authorities said. The chief medical examiner's office determined the baby was strangled shortly after being born and ruled his death a homicide. Phillips and her family moved to Florida shortly after the baby's death, police said. As CBS News New York reported after her arrest in 2021, the case had gone cold, but in 2019, police announced new DNA techniques would be used to try to solve the case. They offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Greenwich police said they used newly available forensic testing in 2020 that linked evidence found at the crime scene to the boy's mother. Police took items out of the trash and recycling at Phillips' Florida home in 2020. DNA testing showed Phillips and her husband were the parents of the infant, authorities said. The arrest warrant says Phillips confessed to the crime, blaming stress and her husband's wish to have no more children, CBS News New York reported. "This had troubled her throughout her entire life. She did seem remorseful," Robert Berry, with the Greenwich Police, said after her arrest.
