IN BRITNEY GARD: Missing from Bainbridge, IN - 30 Sept 2025 - Age 46 *Found Alive* (20 Viewers)

Indiana mom missing after 'suspicious' fire at home, officials say

Britney Gard, 46, was last seen on Sept. 30, according to Indiana officials.

www.nbcnews.com

Indiana mom missing after 'suspicious' fire at home, officials say​

An Indiana mom is considered missing after a "suspicious" fire at her home that broke out one day after she was last seen, officials said.

Britney Gard, 46, of Bainbridge, Indiana, was last seen on Sept. 30, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Her family and friends have not had contact with her since then, the night before the fire at her home.

Law enforcement officers responded to Gard's home on the evening of Oct. 1 after smoke was seen coming from the residence, according to an Oct. 2 sheriff's office statement. Officials who entered the home did not find anyone inside — including Gard.

Sheriff's office officials stated in a Wednesday press release that the fire was extinguished and the damage was limited to one part of Gard's home.


Gard's sister, Stephanie Bowen, told WRTV that Gard's purse and car were both left at her home.

Attempts to contact Gard have been unsuccessful since then, prompting the sheriff's office to list Gard as a missing and endangered person, according to the statement.

The family knew something was wrong when Gard did not show up for her daughter's volleyball game on Oct. 1, Bowen told WRTV, describing her sister as her kids' biggest cheerleader.

"She was supposed to be at her daughter's volleyball game. Wasn't there. And then there's a fire. Her car is at home, her purse is at home. She's nowhere to be found, and the house is on fire. It makes no sense," Bowen told the outlet.

The sheriff's office stated that it was still investigating Gard's disappearance as of a statement released on October 3. According to WRTV, Bowen and her sisters, along with others in the community, searched cornfields and wooded areas near Gard's property on Monday.

Fire investigators tasked with collecting evidence from Gard's burnt home deemed the fire started in the house "suspicious in nature," according to the sheriff's office statement. The sheriff's office stated on Wednesday that it would not release further information about the fire, as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding it is ongoing.

Officials used a drone to search for Gard on the night of the fire, and the Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team continued to look for the missing woman the next day. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources was called in regarding searches of a pond on Gard's property, but she still could not be located, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office stated that the search for Gard continues, with sheriff's detectives and detectives from other law enforcement agencies utilizing "technology-based investigative tools and programs" to locate the woman.

 

[Guess Who]

Her purse and id, etc are still at the home. That doesn't bode well.

Indiana woman reported missing after 'suspicious' fire in her house: Sheriff's office

Britney Gard, 46, is considered a missing endangered person "due to her unknown whereabouts," the sheriff's office said.

abcnews.go.com

"Her car's at home, her purse is at home. She's nowhere to be found, and the house is on fire. It makes no sense," Bowen told WRTV.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

She has kids. Wonder what her partner or ex-partner has to say.

 

[Guess Who]

She has kids. Wonder what her partner or ex-partner has to say.

And where is he?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'It makes no sense': Missing Putnam County woman's family shares details about 'troubling' disappearance

Anyone with information about Gard is asked to contact the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center and 911 Dispatch at 765-653-5115 extension zero.

www.wrtv.com

'It makes no sense': Missing Putnam County woman's family shares details about 'troubling' disappearance​

Where is Britney Gard? The 46-year-old mother of two is considered missing and endangered.

Among the tall ears of corn off County Road 600 North, there are more questions than answers.

“Who took her? How does someone just go missing these days? It doesn’t make any sense," Gard's sister Stephanie Bowen said.

Bowen, her sisters, and dozens of others searched through the cornfields and wooded areas adjacent to Gard’s property on Monday.


According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Gard was last seen on Tuesday, September 30.

The next day, her house was reported showing smoke at 7:39 p.m.

Local fire departments extinguished the blaze, but no one was found in the fire-damaged home.

Three fire investigators were called to the scene and are still compiling evidence. Fire investigators said they believe the house fire is suspicious in nature and will relay their full findings to criminal investigators.

“I feel like there’s something here bigger that we don’t know and someone knows something," Bowen said.

The search for Gard continues.

Fliers with her picture and a physical description can be seen across town, outside businesses, in gas stations, and even taped to pizza boxes.

“Be vigilant. Look around. Search your brain. If you have a camera on your house or something, go back and look at it and see if you saw something different that night," Bowen said. “Britney, we love you. We hope to see you safely return home.”

 

[Kimster]

She has kids. Wonder what her partner or ex-partner has to say.

My first thought.

 

[Guess Who]

Found!

https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/putnam-co-woman-found-alive-after-missing-for-one-week/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNT1ltleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtusYv3JQliw0qPOFCTnkdstVXD9EgMruFAH4H3o6kqln9dS9Jt5UOD4hgOq_aem_cMKdEuYbORv257Zq8NiQkw

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A missing Putnam County woman was found alive Wednesday, her family said.
46-year-old Britney Gard was reported missing after local fire departments responded to a structure fire at her home on October 1. Gard was not at home during the fire, and since then family and friends had not been able to make contact with her.
However, on Wednesday night her family confirmed that she was found alive and she was seeking medical treatment.
This is a breaking story and we will have more information as it becomes available

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Found!

https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/putnam-co-woman-found-alive-after-missing-for-one-week/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNT1ltleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtusYv3JQliw0qPOFCTnkdstVXD9EgMruFAH4H3o6kqln9dS9Jt5UOD4hgOq_aem_cMKdEuYbORv257Zq8NiQkw

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A missing Putnam County woman was found alive Wednesday, her family said.
46-year-old Britney Gard was reported missing after local fire departments responded to a structure fire at her home on October 1. Gard was not at home during the fire, and since then family and friends had not been able to make contact with her.
However, on Wednesday night her family confirmed that she was found alive and she was seeking medical treatment.
This is a breaking story and we will have more information as it becomes available

What in the world… Glad she is alive!

 

[Guess Who]

What in the world… Glad she is alive!

I saw that she was found in a wooded area near(ish) to her house. I think it was like 2 miles.

 

[Tresir]

A bit more info.

Britney Gard’s family speaks on her being found

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After a week-long search by family members, first responders, and even entire communities, missing woman Britney Gard has been found. Members of her family, shortly after being able to see her for the first time, say they are nothing but thankful. Gard was last...

wibqam.com

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After a week-long search by family members, first responders, and even entire communities, missing woman Britney Gard has been found.
Members of her family, shortly after being able to see her for the first time, say they are nothing but thankful.
Gard was last seen by her daughter on September 30th. On October 1st, Gard’s house caught fire, but she wasn’t home, in what local officials described as a suspicious incident. Since then, her sister, Stephanie Bowen, said the local community has rallied to help.
“It was definitely a very good, warm feeling to have so much support”, Bowen said. “It’s been really great having the community giving us the faith, praying with us, putting flyers out, and staying positive that we were going to find her.”
Gard was found in the woods just a couple of miles from her home. She was transported to Hendricks Regional Health Hospital in Danville for medical attention. Gard’s family said they don’t know yet how she got there or her condition.
“She needs to spend some time with the docs and let them make sure she’s getting the care she needs right now”, one family member said. “We’ll figure out what happened and figure out what support she needs and make sure she has it.”
Right now, the Gard family is just focused on getting to love on their mother and sister once again.
“Getting to see her and her daughter hug, it’s the only ending to this story that matters”, one family member said.
Authorities are waiting on Gard to receive medical attention before continuing their investigation into how she has been missing for the last week.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Hmm. Seems to point in only one direction so far as I can see at this time.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Just strange. She was gone for more than a week. But used presumably a cell phone that still had battery to make that call.

Sheriff says no threat to public after missing Putnam Co. woman found alive

Britney Gard was found in a wooded area after being missing for over a week, and was assisted by the Indiana Conservation Officers and Putnam County Emergency Management paramedics.

wibqam.com

After being missing for over a week, Britney Gard was the one who called police to help her find her way back home, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a 911 call at 5:30 p.m. on October 8 from Gard.

Police said he call was requesting assistance finding her way out of a wooded area in Halls Woods Nature Preserve. Just east of Bainbridge, Indiana.

With assistance from the Indiana Conservation Officers, the sheriff’s office was then able to find Gard.

“The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is not currently looking for any individuals of interest in this missing person investigation of Britney Gard. There is no current threat to the general public in this case,” said the sheriff’s office.

“It is with great relief that we were able to find Ms. Gard last evening and bring this missing person case to a close. We would like to thank her family and all of the organizations that worked with us around the clock on this missing person case,” said Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh. “Please continue to keep Britney, her family, and all emergency personnel in your prayers. As this case is still under active investigation to verify all incident information and bring a closure to this event, we will not be releasing any further details in this case at this time.”

 

[Guess Who]

Just strange. She was gone for more than a week. But used presumably a cell phone that still had battery to make that call.

Sheriff says no threat to public after missing Putnam Co. woman found alive

Britney Gard was found in a wooded area after being missing for over a week, and was assisted by the Indiana Conservation Officers and Putnam County Emergency Management paramedics.

wibqam.com

After being missing for over a week, Britney Gard was the one who called police to help her find her way back home, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a 911 call at 5:30 p.m. on October 8 from Gard.

Police said he call was requesting assistance finding her way out of a wooded area in Halls Woods Nature Preserve. Just east of Bainbridge, Indiana.

With assistance from the Indiana Conservation Officers, the sheriff’s office was then able to find Gard.

“The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is not currently looking for any individuals of interest in this missing person investigation of Britney Gard. There is no current threat to the general public in this case,” said the sheriff’s office.

“It is with great relief that we were able to find Ms. Gard last evening and bring this missing person case to a close. We would like to thank her family and all of the organizations that worked with us around the clock on this missing person case,” said Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh. “Please continue to keep Britney, her family, and all emergency personnel in your prayers. As this case is still under active investigation to verify all incident information and bring a closure to this event, we will not be releasing any further details in this case at this time.”

probably had it powered off the entire time until then

 

[GrandmaBear]

Another unnecessary search effort and cost most likely. I hope we get to hear the story this woman comes up with.

I'll take that back if I'm wrong.

 

[Guess Who]

https://fox59.com/indiana-news/missing-putnam-county-woman-found-alive-more-than-a-week-after-suspicious-fire/

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. – A Putnam County woman who disappeared a week ago has been found alive just a couple miles from her home after she herself called 911 for help.
Britney Gard, 46, is currently receiving medical treatment following her disappearance.
The circumstances were bizarre. Local departments responded to a fire at her home on East County Road 600 North in Putnam County on Oct. 1. She was not home at the time, but her car was in the driveway and her purse was inside.
Docs: Putnam County child molestation suspect arrested in western Oklahoma
Investigators deemed the fire suspicious in nature. Her family said Sept. 30 was the last time anyone had seen her. No one was able to contact her.
Her disappearance led to a large search, with rescuers looking through about 75 acres of corn and checking ponds for any trace of her. Drones were also deployed in the search.
Law enforcement tracked her phone as Indiana State Police and the FBI provided assistance in the case. On Wednesday, Gard was found alive in a wooded area about 2.5 miles away from her home.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a 911 call from Gard around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said she asked for help finding her way out of a wooded area in Halls Woods Nature Preserve just east of Bainbridge, Indiana.
Soon, sheriff’s deputies and Indiana Conservation Officers found Gard in the woods. After being found by the police, Gard was checked out by Putnam County Emergency Management paramedics before being transported to Hendricks Health.
Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh told our partner station in Terre Haute that investigators do not believe anyone else was involved in Gard’s disappearance and that there is no current threat to the general public regarding the case. Authorities did not provide any further details.
“It is with great relief that we were able to find Ms. Gard last evening and bring this missing person case to a close,” Baugh said to WTWO/WAWV. “Thank you to her family and the organizations that worked with us around the clock on this case. Please continue to keep Britney, her family and all emergency personnel in your prayers.”
Family members expressed relief at the outcome.
“We had some alerts set up so that if Britney’s phone did become available that it would start squawking and it did,” said Kenny Bowen, Gard’s brother-in-law.
“[The investigator] just said, ‘Kenny, I’ve got her. I’m getting her out of the woods’,” Bowen said. “It was just an amazing and helpful call.”
The family is still trying to come to terms with what happened.
“Panic, is it really her?” said Stephanie Bowen, Gard’s sister, of her initial reaction. “I was just in shock. Excited, hopeful. When we confirmed it, it made us all feel relieved.”
The family thanked local law enforcement and the community for assisting in the search and getting the word out about Gard’s disappearance.
Family members don’t know where Gard has been for the last eight days and weren’t sure if she was in the woods the entire time.

 

[Guess Who]

I also wonder if she possibly had a power bank to charge her phone IF the battery did die. Pretty sure she had it powered off the entire time though because the family says they had alerts set up if it came back on. She probably knew she could be tracked and knew if she had it powered off, it couldn't be.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I tend to doubt she was in the woods 8 days. I think the public should know in this one if this was a hoax or her story (whatever it is) is false.

I suspect for some reason that she started the fire too. Did she hope it would take off and engulf the whole home leaving people to wonder or assume she died in the blaze?

Seriously, what was she up to??

 

[Tresir]

When I originally read this I got the impression she was in fear of someone and was hiding from that someone. The fact that she was gone for so long is also what made me think that too.

I wonder if we will find out what happened?