Missing NJ grandmother and child found safe in rural Dinwiddie Co.

Barbara Briley and her great granddaughter, La’Mrya were found in rural Dinwiddie County, VA Wednesday.

RICHMOND — A 71-year-old New Jersey woman and her 5-year-old great-granddaughter were found alive in Virginia on Wednesday afternoon, four days after they went missing during a holiday road trip to North Carolina.

Barbara and La’Myra Briley were found inside their vehicle on private property in Dinwiddie County, south of Richmond, just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.  She said they were parked at least a mile from a road, though it was not clear how they ended up in the rural area.

Ms. Briley was flown by helicopter to VCU Medical Center in Richmond for treatment, according to Geller, who gave no further details about the woman’s condition. The girl appeared unharmed but was transported for medical evaluation.

Maj. William Knott of the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office said a man walking in a wooded area stumbled across the two in their car. The man had seen news reports, realized who the Brileys were and called 911, Knott said.

Knott said Barbara Briley was “not responsive to questions” when authorities arrived, but La’Myra, who has since been reunited with family, was “in good shape and very talkative.” He said the two were alone in the vehicle, which did not appear damaged.

The Brileys left New Jersey on Christmas Eve to visit relatives in North Carolina but never arrived. They had last been seen Saturday at a gas station in Ruther Glen, Virginia, about 30 miles north of Richmond.

Family members told police that Barbara Briley was a former driver for New Jersey Transit and had made the trip to visit North Carolina relatives numerous times. They also said she didn’t have any known medical issues.