Missing POW girl reportedly found alive

A 13-year old girl missing on Prince of Wales Island has been reported found.

Makayla McRoberts of Port Protection was found by ground searchers on Tuesday morning. She was picked up by a Coast Guard helicopter and possibly taken to Klawock for a medical evaluation. No word on the extent of her injuries, if any. It is still unclear what happened to her or exactly where she was found.

The Coast Guard initially reported finding the girl and flying her out of the search area. Alaska State Troopers later confirmed that McRoberts was found alive.

McRoberts went for a hike on a trail near the boardwalk at the end of Port Protection Road on Sunday. Family and friends looked for her Sunday evening when she did not return as planned.

On Monday, volunteers and professionals from Port Protection, Ketchikan, Klawock, Sitka and Juneau joined in the search, looking for her from helicopters and on the ground with search dogs.

The girl is new to Alaska and unfamiliar with the area. Troopers report that she was last wearing Levi’s, a brown hooded sweatshirt, and tennis shoes.

A Coast Guard H-60 helicopter along with the Ketchikan and Klawock volunteer rescue squads, search dogs, and Port Protection citizens conducted searches of the area. They were expected to continue Tuesday along with Sitka Mountain Rescue, and SEADOGS. The Air National Guard was also expected to dispatch a Blackhawk helicopter from Juneau.

State troopers coodinated search efforts. They say that aircraft were unable to fly out of Klawock becuase of poor weather. Roads in the area were also reported as impassable because of heavy snow pack.

(Check back later for more updates on this developing story.)

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