Family missing for two weeks found alive!

[alicia-w]

At least two of six members of an Ashland family missing since March 4 were found alive Tuesday in a remote, snowy section of Southern Oregon, authorities said.

The Douglas County sheriff's office said four other members of the family of Pete Stivers and Marlo Hill-Stivers were reported alive — but that was only a preliminary report.

That information came from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the sheriff's office said. In a statement, the sheriff's office said BLM employees found two members of the family late Tuesday morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11946086/

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_032106_news_ashland_family.4973f5a0.html

[Lindaloo]

This is excellent news!!

[Tstormwatcher]

Good news considering what a moron he was.

[alicia-w]

who was a moron?

[Tstormwatcher]

The father who decided to take a shortcut in the mountains in the winter in an RV

[Brent]

The father who decided to take a shortcut in the mountains in the winter in an RV

Yeah...

[azsnowman]

I KNEW I had heard of these IDIOTS before.....it was during one of our afternoon briefings, about a year ago and now THIS........."IDIOTS!" SO much for making a MOVIE huh

http://www.azcentral.com

2 members of rescued snowbound family accused of drug violations

Mar. 25, 2006 12:00 AM


Arizona authorities have filed felony drug charges against two members of a family rescued from a snowbound motor home in Oregon this week.

Warrants accusing the pair of drug violations were issued Wednesday in Snowflake Justice Court. That's the day after Elbert and Becky Higginbotham and four of their relatives were rescued in a mountainous region after being stranded on a back road for nearly three weeks. Bond has been set at $25,000 each.

The warrants were issued after Arizona authorities saw television coverage about the rescue, according to the Associated Press. In an interview with the Ashland Daily Tidings, an Oregon newspaper, Elbert Higginbotham admitted he had been arrested on drug charges but claimed the drugs were not his. Officials with the Navajo County Sheriff's Office could not be reached for comment. advertisement

[TexasStooge]

Thank goodness the family was found alive.

[azsnowman]

They are wanted on "crystal meth" charges........THAT'S one drug I WILL NOT tolerate

[azsnowman]

http://www.wmicentral.com

home : news : white mtn. independent home : top stories


Rescued couple wanted on local drug charges





By: Mara Reyes, The Independent 03/28/2006





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NAVAJO COUNTY - The story of a family rescued from a motor home after 17 days stuck in the snowy mountains of Oregon took an unexpected turn when Navajo County issued a warrant for the arrest of two of the survivors.
The national media attention apparently alerted local authorities of the couple's whereabouts. The couple reportedly disappeared last year after being arrested for allegedly selling methamphetamines in Heber.

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National TV coverage of the rescue of Elbert Higginbotham, 54, his wife Becky Bess, 44, her son, her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren "reminded" local authorities of the couple who "eluded" police. The Navajo County Sheriff's Office issued warrants for the arrest of Higginbotham and Bess on felony charges of possession of drugs for sale and drug paraphernalia on Wednesday. Higginbotham was also charged with use of a weapon during a drug offense.
The Ashland (Oregon) Daily Tidings first reported the warrants Thursday. "There is an active warrant for Mr. Higginbotham and his wife," Lt. Kelly Clark of the Navajo County Sheriff's Office told the newspaper.
A message for Clark left Friday by The Independent was not returned by press time.
According to a supplemental report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, members of the Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) responded to a trailer in Heber on April 21, 2005, after receiving information of alleged illegal drug activity. Higginbotham reportedly told detectives he and his wife were house-sitting.
Detectives allegedly found five baggies of methamphetamines packaged for sale and a shotgun on the living room floor. Higginbotham denied knowing anything about the drugs, but later admitted to selling the drug, the report says.
The Higginbothams were never charged because they reportedly agreed to cooperate with law enforcement. "He didn't hold up his end of the bargain," Clark told the newspaper.
Initially, Higginbotham told the Daily Tidings the drugs were not his and it was a case of being "in the wrong place at the wrong time."
But in a later interview, Higginbotham admitted to selling and using methamphetamines. He said they agreed to be informants but decided to leave Arizona when word got out that they were "narcs."
Higginbotham told the newspaper he plans to cooperate with authorities. "If they want me I'll face my music. Who wants to live on the run?" he said.
He lamented his "past transgressions" are tarnishing the reputation of his wife's family. "This was me, not them. They are still a good family. They still went through this."
The Higginbothams remain free while Navajo County Sheriff Gary Butler and County Attorney Mel Bowers decide whether to extradite.
However, Jackson County (Oregon) Sheriff Mike Winters told the newspaper he doesn't want the Higginbothams in his county and is willing to help transport them back to Navajo County.
"We don't need any additional meth folks here," Winters reportedly told the newspaper Saturday.

[azsnowman]

No written confirmation just yet BUT....on FOX10 News this early a.m. they stated that "grandma and grandpa tweeker" were JUST picked up at the Wash./Oregon border.........sounds like they were on their way to Alaska, Canada!

Dennis

[azsnowman]

YUP......granny and gramps have been "hooked up!"

http://www.azcentral.com

Once-snowbound couple caught after going missing

Tim Fought
Associated Press
Mar. 29, 2006 12:00 AM


PORTLAND, Ore. - A couple sought on drug charges after their rescue from the mountains of southwest Oregon were arrested Tuesday in Washington state, authorities said.

Elbert and Becky Higginbotham were stopped without incident near the coastal city of Long Beach, Wash., a Pacific County dispatcher said.

The Higginbothams were in the same motorhome where they spent 17 snowbound days this month. Their March 21 rescue attracted national attention. But the joy of the rescue quickly turned sour when Arizona authorities recognized the Higginbothams as a couple who had been caught with methamphetamine and a shotgun, reneged on a promise to cooperate with investigators and disappeared. advertisement




Navajo County, Ariz., Sheriff Gary Butler said he had arranged with authorities in southern Oregon to detain the Higginbothams and have them sent back to his state, where warrants were issued last week. But the couple went missing again Sunday.

The couple had probably faced probation on the drug charges, Butler said, but now could spend time in jail for felony flight.

The Higginbothams left Ashland, Ore., on Sunday night, authorities said.

The couple had come to Oregon to visit Becky Higginbotham's son and family in Ashland. They and four relatives left March 4 on a trip to the Oregon coast but became stuck in the snow on back roads, leading to the rescue.

A relative said he helped the Higginbothams load their vehicle Sunday and discussed which way they might head.

"They said they were going to California," said Ezekiel Hill, 23, of Ashland.

But instead, the couple started out heading north on Interstate 5, said Ed Hill, Ezekiel's father