Woman Found in Canyon After Hours-Long Search

A woman who was reported missing from her home Wednesday morning was found 24 hours later in a canyon, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

Police say Jan Mattei, 73, walked away from her home on Caminito Estrellado around 10 a.m. while her caregiver was vacuuming upstairs.

Mattei suffers from dementia and has a history of wandering away from the caregiver. She has done this five times before.

Searchers told NBC 7, Mattei has hidden from them in the past but this is the first time she was missing for so long.

SDPD set up a command post at St. Therese Church/Academy at College and Warning Wednesday night while officers actively searched for Mattei.

Police say search dogs were out earlier on Wednesday day Mattei’s scent went cold.

On Thursday, police said she was found in a canyon off Easton Court which is about a mile away from her home.

SDPD says the canyon was too steep so they used a helicopter to airlift Mattei out. She appeared to be uninjured but was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.

San Diego Police, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue helped in the search.

Watch the story here.

San Diego police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue are coordinating the search in the Del Cerro and San Carlos area. NBC 7’s Dave Summers reports.
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