Kati Kim And Daughters Found; James Kim Still Missing
Update: Four-year-old Penelope told the nurses at the hospital "I love this place," and had hot chocolate, Cheerios, and a hamburger. James left the car on Saturday morning saying he'd be back by the afternoon but Kati and the girls haven't seen him since. They had gathered wild berries but were afraid to eat them in case they were poisonous.
The weather was pretty mild up in the mountains today, around 50 degrees in the day and maybe dipping down to the low 30s tonight. The Chron offers tips for other road-trippers, and a series of pictures from the rescue scene.
And an Oregon rescue volunteer posts these pictures from his search today.
Previous update: The family kept warm in the car and when they ran out of gas, they burned their tires. James has some outdoor camping experience. The rangers can see his footprints in places and plan to follow them through the night if necessary. James has a lighter and a camera strobe light, and is wearing a sweater, jacket, jeans, and tennis shoes. A helicopter with night vision has also been procured. The authorities think he's in the Windy Creek Drainage Area. Fingers crossed he's okay. (see post 592 in the Guestbook and the CNET link).
Also -- Kati fed the girls the last week by breast-feeding them. Wow.
Updating by SFists Matt and Rita. Article from earlier today after the jump. AP picture of Kati and Sabine Kim in the rescue helicopter.
Update: Another press conference is scheduled for five pm. Check out CNET for the press conference, as well as up-to-date news, and http://www.jamesandkati.com for further info. Please oh please oh please let this have a happy resolution --SFist Matt.
--New link for news on the search for James. Here's the Chron's article. Kati's umbrella had an SOS on it, and they plan to search for James through the night. They'd driven off the road and into the brush. --SFist Rita.
Update: Oregon state police confirm that Kati and daughters were found at around 1:45 p.m. today. A helicopter crew spotted Kati waving an umbrella. The three of them appear to be in good shape. That's awesome. Here's hoping they find James okay next.
Update: Press conference at 3 p.m. this afternoon. Someone on the family website says the police blotter is reporting that Kati Kim and the girls were found in the car but that James had left two days ago on snowshoes for help. They're being helicoptered out and people are now searching for James.
They're still searching the Oregon mountains and coast for any trace of the missing San Francisco family. CNET personality James Kim, his wife (and Doe boutique owner) Kati, and their two young daughters Penelope and Sabine, have been missing for over a week now.
Authorities and private citizens looked all day yesterday and through the evening, and have still turned up nothing. They did get eyewitness reports from last Saturday that the family finished up dinner at a Denny's inland around 9 p.m. and was intending to head to the coast despite the rapidly-worsening weather, and their cell phone signal was located somewhere in a 26 mile radius from the town of Glendale, Oregon last Saturday as well.
Based on this, CNET readers are speculating that the Kims might have followed a straightforward-looking road off a GPS recommendation for "shortest path," that in fact becomes almost impassable in inclement weather. It is not uncommon for drivers to get lost in that area.
Searches will continue today, and people remain hopeful the family is still okay.
Videoclip of the Kim family by YouTube user earlysound.
