It’s been a whirlwind week for the family of Britney Gard, 46. The Putnam County, Indiana, mom went missing without a trace on September 30, 2025, but was found on October 8, just over two miles from her home.
Gard’s family knew something was wrong when the mom didn’t attend her daughter’s volleyball game after last being seen and spoken to on September 30, according to WRTV. Gard’s sister, Stephanie Bowen, told the outlet that it was completely uncharacteristic for her sister not to show up.
Gard was officially listed as missing and endangered after authorities discovered she had vanished following a suspicious fire reported at 7:39 p.m. the day she went missing. The mom’s purse and vehicle were left at her home.
“I feel like there’s something here bigger that we don’t know, and someone knows something,” Bowen told WRTV.
Finally, on October 8, authorities found the mom just 2.5 miles from her residence. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office released a short statement confirming she was found in a wooded area and was being evaluated by medical staff. However, there are no more details available at this time.
Community members were in disbelief that the news she was found was real — and were relieved to learn it was.
“So happy for your family! Praying for Britney, that she is healthy both physically and mentally,” shared one neighbor in response to the announcement from the Find Britney Gard Facebook group.
Others, however, have already begun speculating that some sort of foul play was involved. “She’s been in the woods by her house for a week? Weird,” someone else commented.
Thus far, the sheriff’s office has not released a further statement about the situation.
