2-year-old found locked in car that was abandoned 2 days ago near Healy

HEALY, Alaska (KTUU) - Alaska State Troopers say the search for a woman who went missing near Healy is changing.

After days of looking involving dozens of professional and volunteer searchers, Troopers said in a community dispatch, the search for 69-year-old Mary Wilson is now reactive, as opposed to active. Wilson’s car had been abandoned about 6.8 miles down the Stampede Trail late last week. A 2-year-old child was found in the car after being locked in for what troopers estimated to be approximately two days.

“We do know that from the point where the vehicle was found, which was approximately 6.8 miles back, and about another mile further, in on the trail, were some items that we believe belonged to Mary,” troopers spokesperson Tim Despain said. “So we have a direction of travel. But beyond that, we haven’t found any signs of her.”

The agency has since said the child is back with their mom and appears to be in good health.

Wilson was also referred to by troopers as the child’s grandmother, but authorities now say she is a close family friend, and was meant to be watching over the tot.

Troopers said the agency is still looking for Wilson, though there is no indication of foul play. If you have information that you have not reported yet, whether about Wilson or her whereabouts, you are asked to call troopers at (907) 451-5100.

ORIGINAL STORY: A 2-year-old child was found locked in an abandoned car outside Healy on Thursday morning, according to a dispatch from Alaska State Troopers.

At 1:31 a.m. Thursday, troopers got a report of an abandoned car roughly 6.8 miles up the Stampede Trail with a child locked inside.

Troopers located the car and the child and the child was taken to Healy and later handed over to the Office of Children’s Services. Troopers said the child appeared to be in good health.

Based on evidence at the scene, troopers believe the child and car were abandoned two days prior, on July 12.

Troopers are now searching 69-year-old Mary Dawn Wilson in the area around where the car was located. Wilson is the last person known to be with the child and is a close friend of the child’s family.

“It is believed that on Tuesday July 12 when Mary’s vehicle became stuck, she began walking in a direction heading further away from the Parks Highway. Personal items believed to belong to Mary were located at approximately 7.8 mile of the Stampede Trail,” troopers wrote. “Village Public Safety Officer’s, members of Solstice Search Dogs, Mat-Su Search & Rescue, Alaska Wilderness Search & Rescue, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, AST Helo 2, and volunteers are actively searching the surrounding area from the vehicle’s location.”

Anyone with information about where Wilson is located is asked to call troopers at 907-451-5100.

This story has been updated with additional information

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect the relationship between Wilson and the child. Troopers initially identified Wilson as the child’s grandmother. Though Wilson is a close family friend, she is not the child’s biological grandmother, troopers later clarified.

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