Six boy scouts, one of whom is the grandson of former Senate President Russell Pearce, were reunited with their families Sunday night after getting lost in the Tonto National Forest.
The group was supposed to return Saturday afternoon.
One mother says the scouts, ages 12 to 13-years-old, were working on their hiking merit badge when they got lost.
The troop was rescued from the Four Peaks area of the forest. They didn't have extra food and water with them.
Scouts Jaxon and Rigdon Merrill seemed thrilled to be back with their mother and holding Snickers bars.
"Pretty worried, my wife was very worried," said Aaron Jones, father of a missing scout.
The two were among six Boy Scouts and two adult scout leaders who were lost in the Tonto National Forest.
"How did they get to that point when they couldn't make it back?" said Holli Pearce, mother of a missing scout.
The troop left Friday evening to camp and hike 10 miles. They were supposed to return Saturday at 4 p.m.
"They were bringing dinner for Friday, then we were to pack them breakfast and lunch for Saturday," said Pearce.
"So we expected them back in the afternoon, 6 or 7 p.m. is when everyone got worried and called the sheriff's office," said Jones.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's helicopter pilot found the group around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
MCSO says the pilot got a thumbs up from the troop when he asked through a PA system if they were okay.
He says the troop waved him away when asked if they needed assistance, so he left.
"We're calm knowing that we know from the sheriff they're safe, that the kids did give them the thumbs up, that they're safe and okay," said Kasandra Merrill, mother of two missing scouts.
But six hours later, with still no sign of the group, worried parents starting hiking the trail to the boys and the helicopter went up again.
This time, the pilot took the group back to the trailhead where their families were waiting.
The boys had just run out of water.
"The sheriff says he thought it looked like they may have gotten off the trail onto a different trail," said Jones.
Needless to say, there hasn't been word on if the scouts ended up getting those hiking merit badges or if they'll be going on another hike.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:55:03 GMT
The actor James Gandolfini, best known for his award-winning portrayal of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano in the HBO series "The Sopranos," has died in Italy. He was 51.
The actor James Gandolfini, best known for his award-winning portrayal of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano in the HBO series "The Sopranos," has died in Italy. He was 51.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:53 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:53:25 GMT
Joe Torre's daughter caught a 1-year-old boy who fell from a fire escape outside a second-floor apartment in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn Wednesday morning.
Joe Torre's daughter caught a 1-year-old boy who fell from a fire escape outside a second-floor apartment in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn Wednesday morning.
New York state and Eastman Kodak Co. have reached a deal that will keep some of the troubled company's operations in Rochester and provide $49 million for environmental cleanup at the once bustling Eastman...
New York state and Eastman Kodak Co. have reached a deal that will keep some of the troubled company's operations in Rochester and provide $49 million for environmental cleanup at the once bustling Eastman Business Park.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:51:22 GMT
Franklin Reyes, 17, was in court Wednesday. He is charged with the death of 4-year-old Ariel Russo.
Franklin Reyes, 17, was in court Wednesday. He is charged with the death of 4-year-old Ariel Russo. He is accused of driving without a license, then fleeing police, jumping a curb, and hitting Ariel and her grandmother as they were walking to school.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:15 GMT
More than 70 percent of New Jersey residents have seen or heard the state's "Stronger than the Storm" advertising campaign, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll.
More than 70 percent of New Jersey residents have seen or heard the state's "Stronger than the Storm" advertising campaign, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:30 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:30:42 GMT
The FBI has found possible human remains in a dig at the New York City house once occupied by a famous gangster. An FBI spokesman confirmed Wednesday that agents found material that they want to test as part of an investigation.
The FBI has found possible human remains in a dig at the New York City house once occupied by a famous gangster. An FBI spokesman confirmed Wednesday that agents found material that they want to test as part of an investigation.
