Missing Illinois woman found safe but disoriented

A woman missing for seven hours in Union County, Ill., was found safe but disoriented near the campsite where she was last seen.

Laurie Yates, 35, of Cobden, Ill., camped Thursday night with her husband and 9-year-old son at a state forest near Jonesboro, Ill., according to Union County Sheriff Jim Nash.

Friday morning, the family discovered their vehicle would not start, and a quarrel erupted between the couple, Nash said. During the quarrel, which turned violent, the son left the campsite and hitchhiked to Anna, Ill., where he called his grandfather to take him to school, according to the sheriff.

The husband left to get help for the vehicle. When he returned at about 10:30 a.m., Yates was missing. She was found around 7:45 p.m. following a search that included about 20 law enforcement officials, Nash said.

Yates was disoriented and taken to Union County Hospital in Anna. She had scrapes and bruises, but was not seriously injured, according to Nash.

Officials do not know how Yates came to be lost and confused. Nash said the woman had been taking pain pills for her back, and it was possible she took too many.

The husband was being held for domestic battery Friday night, the sheriff said.