Missing Girl Found in the Woods—Her Father Was the One Who…
By Staff Writer | June 27, 2025 | 1000 words
In a story that has gripped the nation and brought both relief and heartbreak in equal measure, an 11-year-old girl who had been missing for nearly four days was miraculously found alive in a remote patch of woods just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. But the joy of her discovery quickly gave way to a haunting twist—one that no one expected. The very man who had pleaded on television for her safe return, who had stood with tears in his eyes holding her favorite stuffed animal, was the one who had orchestrated her disappearance.
The Disappearance
It began quietly, with a report filed just after sunset on Sunday evening. Hannah Lewis, a bright and adventurous fifth-grader known for her love of books and animals, was reported missing after she failed to return home from a supposed visit to a friend’s house just two blocks away. Her mother, Amanda Lewis, immediately called police when she received a text from the friend’s parents saying Hannah had never arrived.
For days, authorities searched tirelessly. Drones scanned dense forest areas. Search dogs combed the trails near Pisgah National Forest. Volunteers arrived in droves, holding out hope that Hannah had simply gotten lost. Meanwhile, the media latched onto the story, especially after her father, Jason Lewis, made a tearful public appeal.
With trembling hands and a cracking voice, Jason had looked straight into the cameras and said:
“If you’re out there, sweetheart, Daddy is looking for you. I won’t stop until I find you. Please come home.”
That clip aired nationwide, a father’s desperate cry for help. But underneath the emotion was a secret far darker than anyone watching could have imagined.
Found—But Not Alone
The turning point came early Wednesday morning, when a retired park ranger named Claire Hunt, walking her dog along a lesser-known trail, heard what she described as a “faint but desperate whimper.” She followed the sound and found Hannah sitting alone under a fallen tree, dirty, hungry, but alive.
“She looked up at me with these wide, scared eyes and said, ‘Please don’t let him find me again,’” Claire told reporters.
Stunned by the comment, Claire immediately contacted authorities and stayed by Hannah’s side until police arrived. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was evaluated for minor scrapes, dehydration, and shock. It was during her initial interview with child services that the devastating truth came out.
A Secret Unraveled
Hannah told investigators that she hadn’t been lost—she had been hiding. She claimed her father had taken her into the woods on Sunday afternoon, under the guise of a “surprise camping trip,” only to become increasingly erratic and frightening. According to Hannah, Jason began ranting about how “the world was out to get him,” that “no one cared about him anymore,” and that the two of them needed to “disappear forever.”
“He told me we weren’t going home,” Hannah said in her recorded statement. “He said Mommy didn’t love him anymore, and that we had to leave her behind.”
She described how, when she tried to run away, Jason chased her. She eventually managed to escape during the night when he fell asleep. She wandered for two days, surviving off berries and drinking from a stream, afraid to come out of hiding for fear that he would find her again.
Her story sent shockwaves through the police command center.
Arrest and Fallout
Within hours of the revelation, law enforcement issued a warrant for Jason Lewis’s arrest. He was located just miles from where Hannah had been found, attempting to hitchhike along a highway. Officers reported he seemed disoriented and emotionally unstable when taken into custody.
Sheriff Daniel Harrow held a press conference shortly after, his tone somber.
“This case reminds us that sometimes the danger isn’t a stranger—it’s someone you think you know. We are grateful Hannah is safe. But we are also heartbroken by the betrayal she suffered.”
Jason is now facing multiple charges, including child abduction, child endangerment, and unlawful restraint. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
A Mother’s Agony—and Relief
Amanda Lewis, who had been staying out of the spotlight throughout the search, broke her silence after Hannah’s rescue.
“I’m numb. I trusted that man with our child. I never imagined he would do something like this,” she said through tears. “I’m so proud of my daughter. She’s the bravest girl I know.”
Amanda also revealed that the couple had been quietly going through a difficult separation. Jason had recently moved out of the family home and was allegedly struggling with depression and financial instability.
“I thought I was doing the right thing by giving him space to spend time with Hannah,” she said. “I just didn’t know how much pain he was really in—or how far he’d go.”
Community Reaction
The town of Asheville has been rocked by the revelation. Many neighbors who had volunteered in the search were stunned to learn that the father had played a role.
“I carried flyers with that man’s face on them,” one volunteer said. “I helped him put up posters. We prayed with him. It’s chilling.”
Local churches have organized prayer vigils for Hannah’s continued recovery, both physical and emotional. Counselors have been made available to students at Hannah’s school, where she is described as “kind, bright, and full of life.”
Moving Forward
For now, Hannah is back in the safety of her mother’s arms. Though physically unharmed, the emotional wounds will take much longer to heal. Amanda says her daughter is sleeping in her bed again and often wakes up crying at night.
“She keeps asking me, ‘Why did Daddy lie to me?’” Amanda said quietly. “And I don’t have the words yet. But I’m here. And I won’t let her go.”
Authorities say the case remains open as they continue to investigate Jason’s state of mind, possible motives, and whether anyone else knew what he planned to do.
But amid the darkness, one truth shines bright: a little girl is safe tonight—not because someone found her, but because she found the courage to escape.
And in a world that too often feels uncertain and cruel, Hannah’s bravery reminds us that hope can still be found in the most unexpected places—sometimes even under a fallen tree in the woods.
