GRATEFUL FAMILY members hold the two 4-year-olds while Acadian Ambulance medics see to Heather Gary. The trio suffered dehydration and insect bites during their day-long ordeal in the woods. (Facebook)
Landon Sonnier and Heather Gary
Taylin Toucheck
Search headquarters
Seach headquarters
Joel Blanchard Road
Why were a young woman and two tots stranded in the woods?
Swarms of volunteers and swarms of mosquitoes competed for the health and well-being of Heather Gary, her 4-year-old son Landon Sonnier, and a friend’s daughter Taylin Toucheck, also 4.
The trio went missing Sunday afternoon, when their four-wheeler got stuck on a joy ride in the woods off Joel Blanchard Road, between Henderson and Catahoula, and their riding partner, Clyde Louviere, rode away for help.
They were found, safe but for dehydration and bug bites, around 7:30 p.m. Monday night. They had wandered about a mile from their stranded ATV.
Their plight was reported not by Louviere, according to reports, but by an oilfield worker who saw them walking along Joel Blanchard Road.
Deputies arrested Louviere at his home around 7:30 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear in court in Lafayette. He had apparently been given a lift by a passing motorist.
Gary was described as disoriented or “out of it” after the ordeal.
Maj. Ginny Higgins of the St. Martin Sheriff’s Office extended her department’s thanks for the many volunteers, nearly 70 in number, many of whom spent Sunday night and Monday combing the dense swampy woods. Their number included private citizens as well as the canine team from Hunt Correctional Center, Louisiana State Police, Wildlife and Fisheries, St. Martin Land Company, Parks Volunteer Fire Department, and the FBI.
Sally Angelle contributed to this story.
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