Abbeville woman found alive after search in Sardis Lake bottom

LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. — An Abbeville woman was found alive Monday afternoon after she was reported missing in the Sardis Lake bottom, prompting a search involving several emergency response agencies.

Lafayette County Sheriff’s deputies located Mariah Estes at 1:51 p.m. Sept. 14, according to the sheriff’s office. She was later flown to Baptist North Mississippi in stable condition.

Deputies were dispatched at 8:56 a.m. to the southeastern portion of the lake bottom. Authorities said Estes and another person had been riding an ATV when it became disabled. The pair decided one person would walk out to get help while the other remained with the vehicle.

Search teams from the sheriff’s office and Lafayette County Fire Department responded, along with the Lafayette County Emergency Management Agency’s K9 and Incident Response Team and officers from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

After deputies found Estes, paramedics from the fire department and Baptist Ambulance Service reached her on foot and began providing treatment. Other responders worked to determine how to safely get her out of the lake bottom.

Firefighters, deputies and wildlife officers moved Estes to a clear area, where Hospital Wing of Oxford responded to transport her to the hospital. An updated condition was not available when the sheriff’s office issued its release.

Sheriff Joey East credited the coordinated response with bringing the search to a positive conclusion.

“This is exactly the kind of teamwork we train for, multiple agencies coming together with a single goal,” East said.

East thanked the deputies, firefighters, emergency management personnel and wildlife officers involved, praising their professionalism and dedication.

“Most of all, we’re thankful this situation had a positive outcome and that Ms. Estes is safe,” he said.