Alaska Department Of Public Safety,State Troopers Public Information Office

Dispatch Text:

Update 8/18/23 9 pm: On August 18, 2023, at 5:30 pm, two hikers located Jonas Bare on a trail approximately 200 yards from Chena Hot Springs Resort. The hikers brought Bare to the Alaska Wildlife Troopers search and rescue command post within the resort. Bare was uninjured and told Troopers that he had left Hovesepian to seek help. Bare guided Troopers and rescuers to the general area where Hovesepian was located approximately 3 miles away from the resort. Hovesepian was located by the team after calling out for her. Bare, Hovesepian, and the rescue teams returned to Chena Hot Springs Resort at 8:40 pm. EMS evaluated both Bare and Hovesepian. The Alaska Wildlife Troopers would like to thank the professional volunteer search teams and Chena Hot Springs Resort for their assistance with this operation.  

Original: On August 12, 2023, the Fairbanks Police Department requested the assistance of the Alaska State Troopers on a missing persons case that originated in their area of responsibility. 50-year-old Tennessee resident Jonas Bare and 37-year-old Tennessee resident Cynthia Hovesepian were visiting Alaska and had not made their return flight nor contacted family. FPD Officers located the couple’s luggage still at their Fairbanks accommodations. Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers began investigating leads across Interior Alaska. On the evening of August 12, 2023, Troopers located the couple’s vehicle at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Troopers launched a search and rescue operation in the area and have been actively searching the area with helicopters, sUAS, ATVs, professional search and rescue teams, and K9 teams. Search efforts are ongoing. Troopers would like to thank the Chena Hot Springs Resort, Wilderness Search and Rescue, and PAWS rescue dogs for their ongoing assistance.