Family Quarrel Leads To Rescue In Woods

A family quarrel led to an extensive search in the woods off Route 1A in Norfolk that found an unconscious young woman last week.

Police got a 911 call at 11 p.m. Saturday, July 10 reporting an argument between a husband and wife who were driving back to their home in Rhode Island after attending a family party in Walpole, said Norfolk Police Lieutenant Jon Carroll.

The wife, 41, was driving, while the husband, 37, was the passenger seat. In back was their 10-yearold son and a 24-year-old niece. The family of three is from Manville, Rhode Island while the niece is from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

The car was stopped by the side of the road near Southwood Hospital on Route 1A in Norfolk.

The husband was intoxicated, and during the argument with his wife he broke the passenger-side window of the car. The 10-year-old boy made a 911 call to police from a cell phone.

While the car was stopped, the niece jumped out and ran into the woods nearby.

That led to about a two-and-a-half-hour search for the young woman, in which Norfolk police and firefighters were assisted by police in Walpole, Wrentham, Ashland, and the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Department.

Searchers used police dogs from Ashland and the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Department and thermal imaging equipment.

The woman did not answer repeated calls to her cell phone, but authorities were able to get an approximate location on it.

Norfolk firefighter Patrick Rockett found the woman about 100 feet into the woods off Route 1A, unconscious. Police believe she passed out from a combination of alcohol and medication.

The woman was taken to Norwood Hospital, where she was expected to recover.

Among the Norfolk police officers taking part in the search were Sergeant Robert Shannon, Officer Steve Plympton, and Officer Dave Holt. Searchers cleared the scene at 1:57 a.m. Sunday, July 11.

The husband was taken into protective custody by police, but police do not anticipate criminal charges in the incident, Carroll said.