Radiology student, Lisa Theris, is found alive after going missing in the Alabama wilderness for a month, surviving on only berries and wild mushrooms – police say she may have been drugged
After escaping into the woods from two male friends out on a burglary, Radiology student, found her herself in an unfamiliar forest
Lisa Theris, was lost amid thousands of acres of dense forest in Midland, Alabama, on July 17-18
Theris, 25, was found alive, Saturday after going missing in the Alabama wilderness for a month
She did not have shoes or shelter for three weeks until was found on Saturday
Theris said that she would drink water from muddy puddles or squeeze the moisture from her hair
Theris said she survived on only berries and wild mushrooms, had lost 50 pounds and was found covered in scratches and bug bites
Theris was reunited with her family after she found the wood line on highway 82 and a woman stopped to help around 2 pm Saturday
It has also been revealed that she emerged from the woods two days after disorderly conduct charges were dropped against her in court
Charges were dropped after she failed to make a court appearance, presumed dead after weeks of futile searches for her
Investigations ongoing, police say Theris may have been drugged, admit there is a lot more to the story, but cannot reveal any additional details at this time
Lisa Theris, after her odyssey [seen left in hospital] and [right], before her disappearance, stayed alive for nearly a month while lost amid thousands of acres of dense forest in Midland, Alabama by surviving on mushrooms and berries.
An Alabama woman who went missing in the wilderness has been found alive after a month. Investigators say she was with two men who burglarized a hunting camp in Midway on July 17-18, she did not know they were going there to break into the lodge and steal things and didn’t want to be a part of it, she fled the scene and began her month-long ordeal.
Lisa Theris, 25, said she survived by eating berries and wild mushrooms while she was lost amid thousands of acres of dense forest in Midland, Alabama without shoes or shelter.
By the time she was found, Theris had lost 50 pounds and was covered in scratches and bug bites. She did not have a phone or purse on her.
Theris was finally reunited with her family after she made it to the wood line on Highway 82 and was spotted by a driver around 2pm on Saturday.
Lisa Theris in hospital receiving treatment after being naked, unprotected from the elements in the wild for nearly a month
Lisa Theris speaks about the 25 days she spent lost and naked in the woods of Alabama, just days after being rescued by a a driver along the highway, earlier this week
Missing then found Alabama woman, Lisa Theris had lost 50 pounds and was covered in scratches (photo) and bug bites. She did not have a phone or purse on her
The physical scars that may never completely heal after Lisa Theris spent a naked 25 days ‘lost’ in the Alabama wilderness
A woman saw ‘something moving in the bushes’ as she was driving along the highway, and turned around, Sheriff Raymond Rodgers told WFSA.
‘She called us and told us she had located the missing person. Finally the young lady has been found and she’s alive.’
It brought to an end a multi-county search for the radiology student, who was reported missing on July 23.
Police discovered that Theris was with two men who were on a burglary jaunt before she disappeared. Theris was with Manley Davis, 31, and 36-year-old Randall Oswald, who allegedly broke into a hunting lodge in Midway before she disappeared
They said Theris did not know the men were planning to break into the lodge and did not want to be a part of the robbery.
Theris [left and right] told police that along with foraging for berries and mushrooms, she drank water from a brook and puddles
Theris was lost in the Midlands forest and was totally unfamiliar with the area
The injuries and rashes are all over the body sustained after Lisa Theris went missing in July, while at a hunting camp with two men, both of whom have been charged with a $40,000 burglary while on that same trip
Lisa Theris had no shoes or clothes while out in the wild for a month
Davis, 31, and Oswald, 36, allegedly stole $40,000 worth of items that included four-wheelers, ATVS, and chainsaws.
They were both arrested and charged with burglary and were considered persons of interest in Theris’ disappearance.
Theris told police that along with foraging for berries and mushrooms, she drank water from a brook and puddles.
She tried to keep moving but, deprived of food and hunger, she was often turning around in circles.
Police said their first focusing was making sure Theris got immediate treatment.
‘We didn’t ask her too many questions,’ Rodgers said. ‘We want to make sure her health is good so we got her on to the hospital. We did not interrogate her at that time.’
After police discovered that Theris was with Davis and Oswald, who allegedly broke in and burglarized a hunting lodge in Midway before she disappeared, the two men were arrested and charged with her disappearance following the theft.
‘She’s not familiar with this area and apparently on the night she ran, she went into the woods at night and got lost,’ Rodgers said.
‘We don’t have the total details on everything yet,’ Sgt Chad Faulkner told the station.
‘We wanted to make sure her health was in the best shape and in the days to come, we’ll get some answers. She’s alive and that’s all that matters at this moment.’
Lisa’s body was covered with whelps and sores
Theris walked in the woods (pictured) for three weeks before she reached an open highway
Theris was back in her Louisville home on Monday, where her siblings said she has begun her slow road to recovery.
‘She is severely weakened, she is in pain, she is emaciated,’ Theris’ sister Elizabeth said. ‘There is not an inch of her that has not been affected.’
‘We are lucky that she is alive, she is so strong and has made it through so much.’
Theris’ brother Will said she is ‘standing strong and full of jokes as ever’.
‘The next few weeks will be rough, but she is handling it all like a trooper,’ he added.
Faulkner said Theris’ survival has been a ‘relief’ to the entire department.
‘Her will to live was strong,’ he said. ‘When you have a will to live and survive, it’s a miracle.’
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