Two girls who were missing in Humboldt County found: 'We're all witnessing a miracle'

A member of the search and rescue team talks to one of the Carrico sisters after they were found 1.4 miles south of their home on Sunday morning after being missing since Friday afternoon. A member of the search and rescue team talks to one of the Carrico sisters after they were found 1.4 miles south of their home on Sunday morning after being missing since Friday afternoon. Photo: Courtesy Of Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Photo: Courtesy Of Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Two girls who were missing in Humboldt County found: 'We're all witnessing a miracle' 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Two sisters from Benbow in Humboldt County who went missing on Friday afternoon were found alive, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office announced the news at a press conference late Sunday morning.

A woman who was present when the two girls were reunited with their family took video of the reunion, which starts with cheers and applause when Leia Carrico emerged from the woods on an ATV. Moments later, while she was being held by her father, her younger sister Caroline came through the same passage, on another ATV.

The sisters' father and mother can be seen in the next few minutes wrapping their jackets and arms around their daughters, kissing them, surrounded by friends, family, and other members of the Benbow community.

"I'm pleased to report that we're all witnessing a miracle today," said William Honsal, Humboldt County Sheriff. "Caroline and Leia Carrico have been found safe and sound in southern Humboldt."

Honsal said the two girls were found at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, 1.4 miles south of their home on Twin Trees Road in Benbow. He said that neither Caroline, 5, or Leia, 8, were injured. The girls were found by two members of the search and rescue squad who were following the tracks that Caroline and Leia left behind.

On Saturday, the sheriff's office said granola bar wrappers had been found in the woods; the girls' mother confirmed she had recently bought that brand, leading searchers to follow the direction indicated by the trail of wrappers.

A woman who was present when the two girls were reunited with their family took video of the reunion, which starts with cheers and applause when Leia Carrico emerged from the woods on an ATV. Moments later, while she was being held by her father, her younger sister came through the same passage on another ATV.

The sisters' father and mother can be seen in the next few minutes wrapping their jackets and arms around their daughters, kissing them, and saying things to them that were inaudible to the camera.

"I can't thank enough the team that's assembled behind me," Honsal said, referring to the search and rescue squad, made up of people from all over the state of California.

He said that the search and rescue mission lasted 44 hours and consisted of personnel from Mendocino and Marin counties and the National Guard.

Originally a press conference to update the community about the search and rescue operation was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, but was delayed because the children had been located.

"It has been unbelievable. We could not have had a better outcome than what we had this morning," Honsal said. "Like I said before, this has been and absolute miracle. I thank the community for all of their prayers."

Estelle Fennel, the second district supervisor in Humboldt County, also expressed gratitude for the community support. "I have to tell you when we got first word that the kids were maybe safe, there was still a question mark in a lot of people's minds," she said.

"We have so many of these kinds of efforts that end up in tears. Today, we can all shed tears of joy."