Missing Ozark County woman found alive after spending nearly 24 hours in woods

A missing 63-year-old woman who had wandered into a wooded area adjoining her home near the Missouri-Arkansas line spent nearly 24 hours in the woods before she was found alive Sept. 25 with the aid of a bloodhound tracking dog.

“It was a bad day that turned out good,” said Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed. “We are so thankful for this outcome.”

Bette Brewer’s husband reported her missing from their home on County Road 615B, off Highway 5 south, around 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, Reed said, adding that the woman walked into the woods near their home and did not return. An officer with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and looked for her for several hours but was not able to find Bette. 

“By that time it was pitch-black dark, and we just couldn’t find her,” Reed said. He and Cpl. Curtis Dobbs returned to the area first thing the next morning.

“We did an initial search of the perimeter and eventually got in touch with Baxter County [Arkansas Sheriff’s Department]. They got ahold of Lt. Steve Lively with the Arkansas Department of Corrections in Calico Rock, who brought his crew up with the bloodhound. While they were on their way, I asked Baxter County if they could bring their helicopter up to search by air.”

The sheriff’s department and the Baxter County air patrol crew were joined by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and volunteers with Timber Knob, Lick Creek and Pontiac Price Place VFDs and the Ozark County ambulance, who took to the woods on foot, searching for the woman. There is no cell phone coverage in the area where crews were searching, which made the process very difficult, Reed said, but everyone worked together to keep each other informed. 

Once Lively and the tracking dog arrived, Reed briefed the officer on where Bette had left from, and the canine officer immediately took the bloodhound into the woods. Within 30 minutes, the dog had found the missing woman approximately a quarter mile from her house. 

Bette, who had lain in the woods in complete darkness overnight, was curled in the fetal position, severely dehydrated and covered in insect bites, Reed said. She was not well but was somewhat responsive. 

“She was really bad off. If she hadn’t been found before nightfall, I’m afraid this story would have a very different ending,” he said. Bette was transported by ambulance  to the Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home for treatment. 

“So many times, you don’t have an outcome like this, especially after that 24-hour mark,” Reed said. “You get excited when something like that comes through, and it was just wonderful. You couldn’t have asked for a better day. Anytime you can help save someone’s life, it’s a good feeling.”

Reed said the safe discovery of Bette might not have been possible without the cooperation and help of all the people who assisted with the search. 

“We’re very thankful to our friends to the south,” Reed said, referring to Baxter County officers and also the Calico Rock officers who provided their helicopter and tracking dog free of charge. “We have three counties across the Arkansas state border from us - Fulton, Baxter and Marion – and I can’t tell you how thankful I am for them. We work together to get things done. If they need our help, we’re there. If we need anything, we can always count on them. Thanks to all the departments working together, we can move mountains.” 

Reed also expressed appreciation to the members of area volunteer fire departments who helped with the search. “These people do this completely on a volunteer basis, take time out of their lives, drop everything at a moment’s notice, to help their neighbors. Now, that is something Ozark County should really be proud of,” he said.