Three days after vanishing into the rugged wilderness of Coconino County, Janelle Banda, a 32-year-old former Arizona State University student, has been located alive. According to the FOX 10 report, Banda had last been seen departing from her campsite at the Edge of the World, near Woody Mountain Road. Dressed in dark attire, Banda's disappearance triggered a search that gripped local communities and her family who is now breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Details surrounding the circumstances of her discovery are still unfolding. However, her sister Sarah Banda has shared the harrowing experience with FOX 10, revealing that someone searching for Janelle by rappelling near Bear Sign Canyon found her. "It's a lot. It's so heavy, but now, it's a good heavy," Sarah Banda said, expressing the mixed emotions the family endured through the ordeal. She also added that the family is eagerly awaiting the reunion with Janelle. "I want to see her so badly. I was told that my dad got to talk to her, and she's saying that she just wants to see her family," Sarah said, echoing the relief that comes with the promise of an impending family gathering.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they safely hoisted Banda from a canyon using a Huey helicopter, as per a statement given to 12News. At this juncture, the specifics of how Janelle survived and the extent of any injuries remain uncertain. Her family, however, is fixated not on the harrowing details but on the relief that comes with her safe return. "I couldn't imagine my life without her, and I'm so happy that I get to still have more time with her," Janelle's sister told 12News. More information is expected to come as authorities continue to investigate the incident.
