85-Year-Old Grandmother Found Alive After Nearly Three Days Lost in Tennessee Woods

TENNESSEE — An 85-year-old grandmother who disappeared from her home and spent nearly three days alone in the woods has been found alive following an extraordinary search involving hundreds of rescuers and volunteers.

Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Dickerson vanished from her home in Hohenwald, Tennessee, on October 8, 2026, leaving her family terrified as search teams raced against time to locate her.

Grandmother Disappears Without Her Phone

Dickerson was last seen around 1 p.m. wearing a black-and-white flannel shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.

Her family became increasingly concerned after discovering she had left home without her cellphone, something relatives described as unusual.

Authorities issued a Silver Alert and began searching the surrounding area. Deputies even drained an in-ground swimming pool while checking the property for possible clues.

Hundreds Join Desperate Search

As the hours passed, the operation expanded to include more than 40 agencies and organizations from across Tennessee.

Search teams deployed tracking dogs, drones, horseback searchers, helicopters and ground personnel to examine the surrounding countryside.

Changing weather conditions made the operation increasingly difficult. Dickerson faced hot daytime temperatures, prolonged rainfall and cooler nights while remaining outdoors.

More than 200 people participated in the search on Sunday alone.

Found Alive After Nearly Three Days

On the morning of October 11, rescuers finally located Dickerson sitting in the woods approximately one mile from her home.

Despite spending nearly three days exposed to the elements, she was conscious, responsive and able to communicate with those who found her.

According to Lewis County Sheriff Matt Tiller, one of her first requests was something to eat.

She was subsequently flown to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, fluids and nourishment.

An Emotional Family Reunion

At the hospital, Dickerson was awake and smiling when her grandson Clint visited her. Family members reported encouraging initial health observations, although additional medical testing was planned.

Her granddaughter, Stephanie Leigh, expressed immense gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue and praised her grandmother’s remarkable endurance.

The successful operation brought together emergency responders, local businesses, churches and ordinary residents who donated equipment, supplies, meals and countless hours of assistance.

After days of uncertainty, the family finally received the news they had desperately hoped for: their beloved grandmother had been found alive.

Source: Lewis County Herald, October 15, 2026. Three-Day Search for Liz Dickerson Ends in Remarkable Rescue.