CORCORAN, Calif. — A California State Prison-Corcoran correctional officer is being credited with helping bring a missing hunter home safely after an off-duty encounter in the Sierra Nevada this fall.
In late October, Correctional Officer A. Miranda was on a hunting trip above Shaver Lake with friends Ignacio and Ramon Martinez when they spotted a figure sitting alone on a hillside, according to CDCR. At first, they assumed it was another hunter — until Miranda looked more closely through his binoculars.
“As I looked through the binoculars, I noticed something was off,” Miranda said. “The hunter was sitting along the trail hunched over with his head resting on his left hand.”
As they approached, the group realized the man was Ron Dailey, who had been missing for nearly three weeks and featured in recent news reports. Dailey stood, waved his arms and called out for help.
When the trio reached him, it was clear he needed medical assistance. Miranda cleared Dailey’s firearm at his request, then began providing first aid.
Dailey was eventually reunited with his loved ones. His family has remained in close contact with Miranda and the Martinez brothers and planned to meet them for a celebratory dinner. Some relatives are even flying in from out of state to thank the group in person.
Dailey was missing for a total of 20 days. He left Selma on Oct. 13 to go hunting for a day along the Swamp Lake Trail in the Sierra National Forest, ABC 30 reports. He told ABC 30 that he took a wrong turn and damaged his truck, leaving him stranded in the wilderness.
