Northern California

Missing 68-Year-Old Oroville Woman Found Alive After 6 Days

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A missing Oroville woman who disappeared six days ago was found alive Wednesday in her snowed-in vehicle, according to Butte County Sheriff’s officials.

Paula Beth James, 68, suffers from dementia. She was located about three miles from Bambi Inn in Butte Meadows at around 12 p.m., after a sergeant on board a Sheriff’s Department helicopter spotted her Toyota 4Runner covered in snow, according to authorities.

Paula Beth James was missing for six days before she was found in Butte Meadows on Jan. 15. [Photo: Butte county Sheriff's Department]

Butte Meadows is in Northern California, about 230 miles from San Jose.

After the helicopter landed and it was confirmed that James was inside the vehicle, search and rescue crews responded with a Sno Cat and transported James to paramedics that were waiting nearby, sheriff’s officials confirmed.

James was transported to a local hospital.

Rescuers transport 68-year-old James on a Sno Cat after discovering her in her Toyota 4Runner that was covered in snow.
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