Hugs and Kisses (Leia and Caroline Carrico Back Home With Mom and Dad)

The Carrico parents greet their daughters  after the two sisters had been missing in the woods since Friday afternoon. [Video by Mark McKenna]

After being lost in the woods since Friday afternoon, Princess Leia Carrico and her younger sister Caroline made it home in time for Caroline’s birthday next week.

The whole community is in smiles. And the famiy is holding each other tightly.

[Video by Mark McKenna]

And just a bit more tenderness from Dad to warm our hearts. Sometimes the rough world manages a little kindness.

Travis Carrico tenderly tucks his daughter into the car. [Video by Mark McKenna]

We’ll have more video, photos, and stories later but just for now a huge shout out to Delbert Chumley and Abraham Hill who are members of the Piercy Volunteer Fire Department (If you would like to help their VFD, send a donation in care of Fire Chief Landergen to P.O. Box 206, Piercy, Ca. 95587). And another shout out to Shanda Rial, who owns the Feather Rose in Garberville. Those three were instrumental in finding the two lost girls.

(Hey, Reddit, we love you, too. But please don’t break our site again!)

UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: 44 Hours After Two Little Girls Went Missing, They’re in Their Parents’ Arms

Earlier Chapters:

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sharon
Guest
5 years ago

Thank god.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

SO HAPPY to read this!!!

Wilbur
Guest
Wilbur
5 years ago

They were found a 30 minute walk down a logging road from their home. Why did it take longer than a few hours?

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

If you search a 3 mile radius (which is a reasonable number to start out with), that’s over 18,000 acres. With 200 searchers, each one would have 90 acres assuming a perfectly optimal search pattern. The kids could have been in the bushes, under a tree staying dry, in a log, or who knows what. Unlike adults, they probably had no idea how to make themselves easier to find. They could also be moving, or have looped back behind searchers through an already-searched section. At 1.5 miles out, even if those 200 people formed a perfect circle while searching, each searcher would be 250ft from another. It’s hard to search large areas!

Wilbur
Guest
Wilbur
5 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

Hey [edit] notice the ATVs in the photo. They literally only needed to drive down the most likely place to find the girls – on a road not in a gully like a shot up deer.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

Rather than yelling at me, why don’t you call them up and ask them if they tried that?

Just because they were on a road when found doesn’t mean they were on the road continually. We’ll probably learn more later, but it’s entirely possible they were in a gully or such, or they’d found a dry place to camp out (remember, it was raining), or they were following an animal trail, or etc etc.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

While writing that, we got an update:
“Caroline and Leia responded when crew members called out to them. The girls were located huddled together under a bush. … The girls told first responders that they were following a deer trail when they had become lost. The two decided to stay put, drinking fresh water from Huckleberry leaves.”

So, my guesses turned out to be pretty close. They were indeed following an animal trail, and then found a dry place to camp out. And it might be pretty hard to spot a couple kids huddling under a bush. Especially if you were ripping along on an ATV following roads and not looking in the bushes.

Connie
Guest
Connie
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

Wilbur,
Sounds like you really know a lot about search and rescue! I encourage you to sign up for the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Posse. (Insert sarcastic tone of voice)

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

Why be a dick

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
5 years ago
Reply to  Huh?

Internet!

Kory
Guest
Kory
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

It wasn’t a logging road where they were found!!!

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

There’s a time and place for cynicism and arm-chair quarterbacking. Just enjoy the moment and set aside the silly internet generated agendas.

Karen
Guest
Karen
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

You’ve obviously never been in tjink forests

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

They took a deer trail and got lost

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Wilbur

It was a lot longer than a 30 minute walk, it was about a 6 mile walks. And if you had any idea what you were talking about, you would understand why it took so long to find them.

Shanna
Guest
Shanna
5 years ago

So happy with this amazing outcome. So grateful to all of the search and rescue personnel who showed up, all of the well wishers & people leaving positive supportive comments. So grateful that the nights were relatively warm & these girls were in good shape.

I feel like I can finally breathe again.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Shanna

Perfectly said, Shanna. I, too, feel like I can finally breathe again.
HUGS to all who were frantically searching, and an especially huge hugs for the family.

Yvonne Carrico
Guest
Yvonne Carrico
5 years ago

So grateful for this collective epic effort! Such a welcome outcome. We are an emotional wreck but beyond thankful to all involved.

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  Yvonne Carrico

Glad everything turned out alright.

bearj
Guest
bearj
5 years ago
Reply to  Yvonne Carrico

woooooohoooooo!

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
5 years ago

Huge thanks to all the rescuers involved! Great outcome!

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago

What a wonderful outcome!

Are there any lessons here to be learned for those of us who are parents? How did this happen? Is there anything we could learn to prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future?

Let’s not deny ourselves the opportunity to gain wisdom because of our fear of “blaming” victims.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
5 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Keep an eye on your kids, and make sure they know that going out in the woods by themselves is something they have to wait to do until they’re older. Also, if your kids are old enough to be unsupervised for periods, give them a good old-fashioned pea-less whistle to go with their cell phones when they’re playing in the woods, and make sure they know to periodically use it if they need help. Low-tech sometimes works best.

Overjoyed
Guest
Overjoyed
5 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

Yes whistles for all!!!!
Us adults could get lost just as easily!!
I love that the girls drank water off of huckleberry leaves.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

Teach them how to make trail markers with fir cones, rocks, sticks, how to break branches properly. It’s all good and stays with you for life time.

Flintstone
Guest
Flintstone
5 years ago

Any of you cynics out there that called foul play on the part of the parents wanna stand up and apologize? Now’s your chance.

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
5 years ago
Reply to  Flintstone

No, they’re probably scurrying away waiting for something else to pounce on with their brilliant cynical insight.

Fantastic
Guest
Fantastic
5 years ago

❤Damn i love So Hum.❤
Thank you to our incredible community. Our volunteer crews are beyond amazing.
Tho netflix and the like want to focus on the maybe 25% of our population that are not great, we know the remainder are caring folks who pride themselves on self sufficiency and are there for each other. And we have some healthy resilient kids here too!!! Going for walks in the woods is normal here, ive seen kids traverse some harsh terrain.
They look remarkably well, kudos to the parents youve obviously raised some smart kids in the world of rural living.

Steve Mitchell
Guest
Steve Mitchell
5 years ago

The rescuers say they were 1.4 miles from home? Maybe by the way the crow flies. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s a lot further than that. But whatever, those two little girls walked a long way through the dark woods in the rain alone. The night of the day they disappeared, we had over an inch of rain after midnight in Benbow. Lucky girls! Tough country girls from a tough country family. So glad for the Carrico family. Long time local family known and loved by all. What a miracle! What a blessing! Big thanks to all involved. Give locally to our first responder groups, and volunteer. They need our help!

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Mitchell

~well said.

Swine
Guest
Swine
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Mitchell

What is it wasnt a long time local family
Would the help stilm come? I hope.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Mitchell

Thank you Steve.

HeartHug
Guest
HeartHug
5 years ago

Bless you Carrico family, and all those who selflessly set out to find these little ones. Big love and sunshine today!

Linda
Guest
Linda
5 years ago

So thankful the girls are safe and home. God Bless all who searched and prayed.

Anne D
Guest
Anne D
5 years ago

Thank Heavens….
Redheaded Blackbelt is back on line.. I was terrified something might have happened to my favorite news source. I kept looking but i couldnt find it. I checked my spelling, i even went in the house and got my tablet. Then i got my old Phone with a broken screen and i still couldnt find it. So i rebooted my router, nothing.. Went to my neighbors and had him look and still no luck. At times like this, myself and my neighbor, well, we were both trying to stsy as positive and upbeat as possible under those circumstances but… By that time my tune had changed and i was beginning to think maybe something, i dont know, i hate to say this but… Maybe something more sinister had happened to the site or, heaven forbid, to Kym… Of course times like this, everyone has suggestions and ideas and theories as to what needs to be done and how to do it and everybody wants to help but I find it’s best sometimes you just sit back and let the professionals handle their business and hope that everything’s alright
So..
I made a really big Reuben…
Hot, of course, with about a half pound of hot meat, a couple giant forksfull of marin sour kraut, thick slices of melting Swiss, then put it all together on two slices of perfectly toasted fresh rye bread which i had coated perfectly with yellow mustard(bottom slice) and Bob’s Big Boy Thousand Island (top slice, and an extra ramekin full on the side), peeled a big orange.. why do they call them Ruben’s anyways I don’t know I guess I’ll have to Google that later anyways, once I finished eating it turns out redheaded Blackbelt was safe and sound and back on-line.. so I guess it’s Happy Endings all around….

Oh yeah, its cool they found those girls too…

Someone
Guest
Someone
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I had to take my son to the e.r. this morning for a tick in his ear and i kept hearing something on the hospitals radio about a 5 yr old girl so i jumped on my phone to check the blackbelt and the site was down and i was just filled with suspense and no answer. Im so glad they are ok. Tough and smart little girls! Who also probably learned a very valuable lesson from their adventure.

localwoman
Guest
localwoman
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

that’s what i thought, thousands pour on to ur site, Great Job reporting Kim. Your community loves you.

Anne D
Guest
Anne D
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Aha.. Enjoy the traffic…
On the real tho, thank god this ended like this, the absolute best possible outcome, my stomach has been upset since Friday. Im so happy for those girls, their family and the whole community. Its just a shame they only make movies about the grisly endings and not the ones like this.. I guess its society, but im glad their back and glad your back.. Alls well and sunday night is my pbs night.. Woo hoo!

I can hear you
Guest
I can hear you
5 years ago

Isn’t the 101 all along between Benbow and Richardson Grove?

John
Guest
John
5 years ago
Reply to  I can hear you

If you look at Google Earth you will see that the park boundary can be accessed by walking due south of where the girls were found, no easy task by the look of the topography, but about 1.4 miles away or so. Very rough, thick country with 2 nights out in a cold/wet/humid environment, amazing story, great outcome 🙂

Christine Rogers
Guest
Christine Rogers
5 years ago

I wondered what was up this morning too. I found your one entry on redheaded blackbelt, someone had asked about the girls and still no news. I was dreading the possible outcome. Glad they were found safe and sound. Who would have thought reddit crashed you.

VML
Guest
VML
5 years ago

I think it was awesome how everyone deployed quickly set up and got on the ground searching for the two little girls.

Im so happy they are all home with there family. I bet them 2 little girls were hungry thirsty and probably very sleepy. That was a big adventure for two little girls but they were smart they stuck together. This will be a memory for a lifetime.

Mom
Guest
Mom
5 years ago

Donate, donate, donate, we need our local volunteer organizations to be supported!

John
Guest
John
5 years ago
Reply to  Mom

Agreed, our SoHum community volunteers are amazing individuals. Give them all the hand you can.

Firegirl99
Guest
5 years ago

I also would like to thank all the search teams and locals who showed up and and gave us a happy ending. Marks videos brought tears of joy when we got home from the command post this afternoon and to Kym for being a lifeline in this community. Thank you all And welcome home girls you are truly my heroes. Hugs and much love to you all.

Smittyrivers
Guest
Smittyrivers
5 years ago

Tears of joy here too. Time to celebrate. Not a time to just go back to tearing our fellow community members to pieces. Many lessons will be learned as the details are reviewed. But right now I prefer to bask in the joy that these girls are safe in the loving arms of their Mom and Dad.

Small Fry
Guest
Small Fry
5 years ago

So Happy these girls will be with thier families tonight! I actually got lost as a youth about the same age! My best friend and I just got curious what was down a trail.. and off we went! Luckily not over night, and it was summer! We just got carried away.. Search and rescue was called, because it was in a super cliffy area! Firefighters were called off fires miles away to help look for us… As the sun started to set, we realized we needed to get back, we stayed to the safety of the trail but due to the rugged terrain, it really freaked our families out! It was pretty bad! But, kids are smarter than most think! And resilient! So, it happens… kids are naturally curious. But drinking off the huckleberries.. someone has been teaching these girls well..Anyway so thankful for this miraculous moment! Yes!

MaggieMay
Guest
MaggieMay
5 years ago

I clearly remember the day my 3 year old disappeared. I was very sick, but ran up and down the sidewalk in my nighty in abject panic looking for him. Two of the most gentle policemen came and searched for him. They found him a while later. I know only too well how terrified this poor mom and dad must have been, and their relief their babies are found safe and sound. God bless all the volunteers and Rescue crews. Job well done!! And thanks Kym for keeping us updated on this scary situation.

Thank you Piercy Fire Department and thanks to everyone that helped
Guest
Thank you Piercy Fire Department and thanks to everyone that helped
5 years ago

Thank you Piercy Fire Department and thanks to everyone that helped.

Jp
Guest
Jp
5 years ago

44 hours alone in the woods with a few granola bars. Those are for sure Humboldt girls. I’m sooo happy there with there family tonight

Grasshopper
Guest
Grasshopper
5 years ago

This is an amazing out come..Thank you,Thank you, Thank you..too everyone

Rich
Guest
Rich
5 years ago

Great job reporting! Such a wonderful outcome. We were praying for them and the family. They didn’t even miss any school. What a weekend for them. Now back to school. 😊. Great story. God bless the children and their family.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago

Thank Goodness.

I didn’t want to mention it yesterday as no one knew what happened yet, and it might have been in bad taste, but I really wondered if those 2 little Humboldt girls were hiding from the scary black helicopter…

So glad they made it OK.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Lynn H

And so glad we have such a huge response community. Thank you all!

Kyle
Guest
Kyle
5 years ago

Abram Hill not Abrahm.

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago

This story made the world news: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47440111

“US sisters found safe in California woodland”

Paul
Guest
Paul
5 years ago

To all of you out there, just give thanks for the little girl’s safe return, in however you pray. It seems these days that the only time we all come together is when someone goes missing, there’s a fire/flood/earthquake, a serious car accident, or some other emergency. Perhaps if we could apply the same compassion we have in emergencies to our everyday life our world would be better.

I told my friend about these girls gone missing and he prayed for them. Two hours later they were found safe. Positive thoughts work. Just saying.

humans did the rescuing.
Guest
humans did the rescuing.
5 years ago

Its nice to see god took a moment away from guiding Catholic priests to actually help a child this time. Big turn around on his part.

Elvis Costanza
Guest
Elvis Costanza
5 years ago

Just couldn’t help yourself, gotta get your agenda into a situation that is unrelated to your grudge. Grow up.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

I’m not a religious man, but I sincerely appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts. In times of Crisis like we just went through, your perspective on things change rapidly and all the outpouring of support from my community really brought a lot of joy to my heart in a very difficult time for my wife and I.

TR
Guest
TR
5 years ago

Kudos to the family for teaching skills to a country kid.
And a real big kudos to the person who taught the 4-H club wilderness classes.
You were heard!!

nobody
Guest
nobody
5 years ago

yay girl power!

Rocky
Guest
Rocky
5 years ago

Mendocino county to the rescue ! Yup i said it