Missing Washington Woman Found Alive

June 10, 2002

BREMERTON, Wash. –– A 68-year-old woman with a mild case of dementia apparently survived nearly two weeks in the woods alone by nibbling on candy.

Vernita Frazier was listed in good condition Monday at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton, where she was treated for hypothermia, cuts and scrapes.

Police said Frazier endured temperatures as low as 37 degrees in a blue dress, brownish green vest, black stockings and black shoes.

"This is amazing," said Kitsap County Sheriff's Sgt. Cameron Mandeville. "I think it's the closest thing to a miracle we've seen in a while, because she's actually in fairly good condition, considering how long she's been gone."

Frazier "apparently left home with some candy in her purse, and she'd been eating a little of it every day," hospital spokeswoman Patti Hart said. "She had some left over."

Frazier vanished May 28 after going for a walk near the home of her son, Vincent Hill, in Silverdale, north of Bremerton and about 15 miles west of Seattle. More than 200 people helped search the area within a mile of the son's home without success.

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