FAIRBANKS, ALASKA: A couple from Tennessee who had gone missing over a week ago during a hiking trip in Alaska were located unharmed on Friday, August 18.
Jonas Bare, 50, and Cynthia Hovsepian, 37, were found after losing their way during what was intended to be a short hike on a well-marked trail. The couple apparently managed to survive for eight days in the wilderness before being discovered, according to Bare's uncle, as reported by The NY Post.
Where were Jonas Bare and Cynthia Hovsepian found?
Jonas Bare and Cynthia Hovsepian were found by another hiker when they were wandering through the woods in Fairbanks, Alaska. The couple was just two miles away from where they had parked their car, according to their family.
Bare's daughter verified that her father and Hovsepian were found alive and were receiving medical care at a hospital. However, the specifics of their condition or whether they sustained any injuries remain uncertain.
It's still a mystery how Bare and Hovsepian, especially with the latter's visual impairment, were able to survive for eight days in the unfamiliar wilderness.
How did Jonas Bare and Cynthia Hovsepian get lost?
Bare's uncle suspects that the couple might have become disoriented due to the 20 hours of daylight per day that Alaska experiences at this time of year. This, coupled with temperatures that can plummet to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degrees Celcius) during the four hours of twilight, could have contributed to their confusion.
"They were lost, I’m sure, and disoriented, or else they would have been out of there," said Bare's uncle.
Bare and Hovsepian were reported missing on August 11 when they didn't follow through with their check out from their Airbnb accommodation. Fairbanks Police disclosed that they had left all their belongings behind.
The couple had been renting a dark-blue Jeep Compass, which was discovered deserted at the well-known Chena Hot Springs Resort, situated close to a popular hiking trail.
"Here’s your kicker: two miles from the car," Bare’s uncle said, adding, "That’s how that tells you right there how rugged that country could be," pointing to the possible reason behind the couple getting lost.
Cynthia Hovsepian is a 'recovered drug addict'
Sabine Milby, who identified herself as Hovsepian's sister on Facebook, shared a different perspective. She revealed that Hovsepian had a past involving severe drug abuse, resulting in an overdose-induced stroke that impacted her eyesight.
"She is a recovered drug addict," wrote Milby, continuing, "Meth and Herion being her demons and these video clearly show this. At height of her addiction in 2021 she suffered a stroke and was found unresponsive in her car which she was living out of."
"A friend of hers contacted Jonas who she had been seeing but was no longer romantic with. Her drug use made it impossible for him to see her. However, when she was found in her car in Nashville, Jonas came to her aid and got her to the hospital," added Hovsepian's sister.
"She had a massive stroke, had Covid and was close to death," Milby continued, along with, "While in the hospital she had 3 more strokes and was diagnosed with Miocadidis inflammation of the heart."
"After months of recovery she received open heart surgery and although she lost much of her sight has made a remarkable recovery. She now lives with Jonas as a roommate and he makes sure that she is well taken care of," noted the sister.
"They decided on a long overdue vacation to Alaska which they both were excited about. There is NO foul play involved," asserted Milby dispelling speculations surrounding her sister based on old YouTube videos.
