SOUTHLAND : 2 Girls Who Disappeared With Neighbor Found Alive in Desert
Two little girls from a tiny Mojave Desert town who disappeared with a neighbor a week ago were found alive today at a remote desert rest stop, authorities said.
An abandoned truck belonging to the neighbor, 36-year-old Alan Erickson, was found, but he was still being sought.
Silver Putnam, 6, of Pioneertown was in the pit area of a mine when she was found by a passer-by about 8:30 a.m. The Rheox Inc. mines are near a rest stop on Interstate 40 near Newberry Springs. Temperatures in the area have been well above 100 degrees.
The girl’s bare feet were badly injured by walking in the scorched, rocky desert area, a San Bernardino County sheriff’s report said.
She told the passer-by that her 3-year-old half-sister, Kristina Johnson, had fallen into a hole and she was unable to awaken her. Kristina was found a short time later by searchers. There was no immediate confirmation that she had suffered a fall.
Both girls were dressed only in their underpants.
Erickson took the two girls Friday on what was supposed to be a short trip to buy a motorcycle part.
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