Missing Iowa Woman Found Alive In Snowy Field

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 24-year-old Sioux City woman who was missing for two days has been found alive, lying in the snow in rural Woodbury County.

Woodbury County deputies say Shaniqwa Hayes was last seen around noon Sunday after leaving her job in Dakota City, Nebraska. Authorities tracked Hayes' location through her cellphone and found her lying in the snow in a field near Moville Tuesday.

She was transported to a Sioux City hospital, where she is being treated for hypothermia.

Hayes' family and friends contacted the Sioux City Police Department on Monday after she did not show up for work. Police conducted a welfare check at her home, but she was not there.

Friends and family launched their own search for Hayes, while waiting the required 48 hours to file a missing persons report. Hayes was officially reported missing with the Dakota County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday morning.

Deputy David Hansen and Lt. Tony Wingert say they found Hayes' vehicle parked off of a U-shaped driveway, which appeared to be stuck in the snow. The officers say Hayes was about 100 to 150 yards from her car and that she was conscious, but unresponsive.

Officers said Hayes could only blink her eyes when they found her.

According to Wingert, Hayes was dressed appropriately for the weather, but it appeared she had been outside for a dangerous amount of time.