Two women and a young boy who vanished while tubing on Michigan’s Muskegon River are home safe tonight, and honestly, after the week they had, they’ve earned a long nap and a home-cooked meal. Jazmin Houck, 28, Sarah Vida, 28, and Vida’s 9-year-old son Kayden Kovalcik set out on the river Tuesday for what was supposed to be a relaxing float. Instead, they disappeared for nearly three days, setting off one of the largest search efforts Newaygo County has seen in recent memory.
The alarm was raised after Vida’s father found her car at the Maple Island Boat Launch with a window smashed in. Family members hadn’t been able to reach the trio in over 24 hours, which is the kind of silence that makes any parent’s stomach drop. Michigan State Police got involved quickly, and what started as a missing persons case grew into a full regional search involving nearly two dozen agencies.
Search crews worked around the clock, combing an area stretching some 11 miles along the river, from Maple Island all the way to the Causeway near North Muskegon. Drones flew in grid patterns, K-9 units worked the banks, and volunteers pitched in wherever they could. On Thursday, searchers found two of the group’s tubes and some footprints, which offered a flicker of hope but no answers.
Then Friday afternoon, that hope paid off. A Michigan State Police K-9 team and Department of Natural Resources conservation officers found all three alive and safe, reported NBC News, about three-quarters of a mile from the Mill Iron Road boat launch. They were dehydrated and covered in scrapes, bug bites, and a healthy dose of poison ivy, but alive.
What Actually Happened Out There
According to the trio, they abandoned their tubes at some point and tried to walk back toward where they believed their vehicle was parked. Anyone who has ever hiked through unfamiliar Michigan woods knows how quickly “I’ll just cut through here” turns into “where on earth am I.” The Muskegon River winds and bends in ways that can disorient even experienced outdoorsmen, and without a clear landmark, three days can slip by fast.
Adding a strange wrinkle to the story, two juveniles were separately arrested for breaking into Vida’s car and stealing a phone and credit card while she was missing. Police confirmed with Fox 17 that the crime had nothing to do with the disappearance, just an unfortunate coincidence for a family already living through a nightmare.
From Peaceful to Peril
There’s something to be said for how fast a peaceful summer float trip can turn serious, and this story is a good reminder to always tell someone your planned route before heading out on the water. But the real story here is the response: nearly two dozen agencies, volunteers, drones, and dogs all working together until they brought three people home.
That’s small-town Michigan grit at its finest, and it’s the kind of teamwork worth tipping your hat to.