Missing hiked found near Falls Tuesday

Search and rescue officials located a missing Indiana hiker Tuesday morning near Cumberland Falls.
Williamsburg-Whitley County Rescue Squad Chief B.J. Searles said rescue workers found missing hiker, Belinda Conn, 50, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, about 7:45 a.m. with the help of Lesha Powell and her search dog, Katie.
Conn left her mother, Betty Conn, who is nearly 80, sitting on a bench near the gift shop about 2:45 p.m. while she went for a short hike, Searles said.
When Belinda Conn hadn’t returned by about 7:30 p.m., Betty Conn reported her missing and about 30 volunteers from the Williamsburg-Whitley County Rescue Squad, McCreary County Search and Rescue, and Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department turned out to take part in the search.
Belinda Conn had gone hiking down a trail and believing that she was at the end of it, turned around to come back, but some how got off the trail, Searles said.
When she started getting lost, instead of walking around getting more lost, Searles said Conn walked down to the area many refer to as the “second beach,” which is about two miles or so from the Falls, and waited until daylight.
Emergency crews searched until about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, and then resumed the search about 6:30 a.m. when Katie led searchers down the trail in Conn’s direction.
“EMS checked her out. She was alright, just tired and wore out,” Searles noted.