Hiker finds missing Burbank woman

A missing Burbank woman is at home recovering after being found more than 60 miles away last weekend in Los Padres National Forest.

Janeth Dretzke, 62, was reported missing the afternoon of May 12 after she had been out of contact with her family since the day before.

Dretzke was found by Pinon Pines resident Sharla Tipton and her family on May 14 while out on a nature hike in the Mt. Pinos area of Frazier Park.

Tipton, accompanied by her children and grandchildren, saw Dretzke on their way down from the mountain, sitting by herself.

“I heard her say something about ‘I’ve been here for three days,’” Tipton said. “Everyone turned to go, but I just thought, ‘I can’t leave until I know. I’m just not comfortable with it.’”

When they reached Dretzke, she said she had gone to clear her head, but got lost on her way down.

Dretzke had fallen while headed down the path. She told the family she had been there for three days and nights without food or water and was unable to walk.

After carrying Dretzke down the rest of the path, Tipton was able to get cell-phone service to call the woman’s family.

Dretzke was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita and was released to her family earlier this week.

The Dretzke family declined to comment on the rescue.

“We called that night to check on her,” Tipton said. “She had been reunited with her family and was on the road to recovery.”