What happened?
PUTNAM COUNTY, Indiana — A missing woman who vanished after a “suspicious” house fire has been found alive, authorities confirmed late Wednesday night.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said 46-year-old Britney Gard was located approximately two and a half miles from her home in Bainbridge, about 40 miles west of Indianapolis. She is currently being evaluated by medical crews after being missing for more than a week.
The disappearance
Gard was last seen on the evening of September 30 and reported missing the next day, after firefighters responded to her burning home around 7:40 p.m. No one was found inside, and officials later described the blaze as “suspicious in nature.”
Her car and purse were left at the residence, prompting immediate concern from family members. “Her car’s at home, her purse is at home. She’s nowhere to be found, and the house is on fire. It makes no sense,” her sister Stephanie Bowen told WRTV earlier this week.
The search
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the FBI, Indiana State Police, and Department of Natural Resources, conducted extensive searches using drones and K-9 units around the property and nearby ponds.
Sheriff Jerrod Baugh said investigators worked “around the clock” to find Gard and thanked the community for sharing tips and footage from home security cameras.
What’s next?
Authorities have not yet released details about how Gard was located or her current condition. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Family members expressed relief at the news that she was found alive after more than a week of uncertainty. “Britney, we love you. We hope to see you safely return home,” Bowen said before her sister’s discovery.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
