Little Girl Gets Lost In The Woods Before Turning Up In An Unlikely Place

Young children have a knack for suddenly vanishing. One second you’re laying out a blanket for a picnic, the next your toddler is running away to chase a leaf. And when two-year-old Gabriella Vitale and her family visited the woods in Oscoda County, Michigan, the little girl terrified her parents by seemingly disappearing without a trace. Police officers and other officials searched the area but couldn’t find Gabriella, even as night fell. Then, against the odds, she turned up in the most unlikely place.

Family camping trip

On July 15, the Vitales were packing up from their camping vacation in the Huron National Forest. But while they were in an area rich with natural beauty, they wouldn't get to enjoy any of it for much longer.

Horrifying realization

Soon, the family realized Gabriella had wandered away while they were tearing down their site. And, naturally, they were horrified. The forest may have been a beautiful place to visit, but it was filled with danger for the lost girl.

Dangerous area

Coyotes and bobcats could be lurking. There were wetlands and swampy areas that Gabriella could get stuck in and rivers and lakes that could sweep her away. Her family must have been beside themselves with worry.

Starting the search

So, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Vitales contacted the police about Gabriella’s disappearance. First, local officers arrived on the scene, but the search party ballooned to include Michigan State Police troopers, conservation officers, aircrews, and police canines as the hours passed.