Three people who went missing after tubing on the Muskegon River were found alive three days later by a K-9 team and Michigan DNR officers about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the Mill Iron Road boat launch. The recovered were identified as Jazzmin Hock, Sarah Vida and 9-year-old Kayden Kovalcik. The search began after a vehicle with a broken window was discovered at Maple Island Boat Launch; authorities praised the multiagency response and volunteers for their efforts.
Two Women and 9-Year-Old Found Alive After Three Days Missing on Michigan's Muskegon River
the Muskegon RiverCredit: naturenearby.org
Two women and a nine-year-old boy who disappeared while tubing on Michigan's Muskegon River were found alive in the woods three days later, authorities said.
Michigan State Police (MSP) announced on X that 28-year-old Jazzmin Hock, 28-year-old Sarah Vida and 9-year-old Kayden Kovalcik were located "alive and safe" at about 4:36 p.m. on Friday, August 7. A K-9 team working with Michigan DNR Conservation Officers found the trio roughly three-quarters of a mile northeast of the Mill Iron Road boat launch area.
the Muskegon RiverCredit: getty
No additional personal or medical details were released "out of respect for the privacy of those involved," MSP said, though local reporting indicated the group was located deep in the woods.
The search began after a family member discovered a vehicle with a broken window at the Maple Island Boat Launch and was unable to reach the three. Officials believe the group had been tubing on Tuesday, August 4, reportedly on orange and pink tubes. Investigators later recovered the abandoned tubes and discovered footprints at the scene, which were examined as part of the response.
"This is the outcome everyone involved had hoped for," MSP said in a statement, thanking the many law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency responders, search and rescue teams and volunteers who worked on the multiagency response.
Brent Kovalcik, Kayden's father and Vida's ex-husband, had described the early uncertainty at a press briefing: "I don't know if they're alive. I don't know if they were kidnapped. I don't know if they're down the river, far, far away.... It's the not knowing that's terrifying."
MSP praised the unified command approach that coordinated resources and personnel from multiple agencies. Officials said they were grateful the search concluded with a positive outcome but declined to provide further operational or medical details to protect the family's privacy.
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