Missing Riverside woman found in Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest

RIVERSIDE - Police in Tennessee on Monday found a Riverside woman who was reported missing March 13.

Lisa Ann Vias, 55, was found in a heavily wooded area in the Cherokee National Forest near Turtletown, Tenn., by members of the Poke County Sheriff’s Office. She seemed confused and told authorities that had been in the woods for 10 days, according to a Riverside Police Department news release.

Riverside police were notified at 3 p.m. Monday that Vias’ phone started to ping in a heavily wooded remote area in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. Her phone had last pinged on March 14 in Murphy, N.C.

Riverside police contacted the Poke County Sheriff’s Office, who patrols this jurisdiction and asked them to search the area.

Vias was transported to a local hospital for observation. Her car has yet to be recovered. Riverside police notified Vias’ husband of her location and he will be traveling to Tennessee to assist.

“My officers, detectives, and our consolidated dispatch center employees worked on this case almost around the clock since Lisa Vias was reported missing. I am very thankful she was found alive and is now getting proper medical treatment at a hospital. Every resource available was used in order to locate this missing Riverside resident, and I am glad to see that their efforts paid off,” Riverside Police Tom Chief Thomas Weitzel said in a statement.