Police Drone Finds Missing Hiker in Ohio Night Search

A late night search in southern Ohio ended safely thanks to a police drone and a program that has been in place longer than many people realize. As the Scioto Post reports, on December 28, just before 11 p.m., Chillicothe Police were dispatched to assist the Ross County Sheriff’s Office near Belleview Avenue and Plyleys Lane, where a hiker had become separated from her group and lost contact.

What made the response notable is that this was not an experimental or newly launched drone effort. The Chillicothe Police Department’s UAV program began back in July 2019, giving officers years of operational experience by the time this call came in. That maturity matters when decisions have to be made quickly, especially in bad weather and low visibility.

The missing hiker was a 61 year old woman with known medical conditions, increasing the urgency of the search as wind and nighttime conditions set in.

Likely DJI thermal drone cuts through wind and darkness

Officer Cody Moore deployed a police drone despite sustained winds around 20 miles per hour and gusts approaching 30. While the department did not publicly confirm the exact aircraft, the drone used was likely a DJI Matrice platform equipped with a Zenmuse XT thermal camera, which in 2019 was the most commonly used thermal imaging setup among US police departments.

At the time the UAV program was launched, the Matrice and Zenmuse XT combination was widely considered the gold standard for public safety work.

It offered reliable thermal imaging, stable flight performance in wind, and enough endurance to scan large areas quickly. Those strengths were on display during this search, allowing the operator to cover ground that would have taken officers far longer to reach on foot.

From the air, the drone detected the woman about a mile from the initial search area. She was off the marked trail and appeared to be struggling to walk, relying on hiking sticks for support.

Fast coordination leads to safe recovery

Once the drone located her position, Officer Moore relayed precise location details to Ross County deputies on the ground. Deputies were able to reach the woman, escort her back to the parking lot near the Earthworks area, and reunite her with her family. Authorities later confirmed she was unharmed.

The incident highlights how aerial thermal imaging compresses search timelines, turning what could become a prolonged overnight operation into a controlled and efficient response.

DroneXL’s Take

This case shows the quiet power of experience. A UAV program that started in 2019, paired with a proven DJI thermal platform, delivered exactly what public safety drones are meant to provide: speed, awareness, and better outcomes under pressure.

Even years after its introduction, the Matrice and Zenmuse XT setup remains a reminder that reliable tools in trained hands often matter more than the latest hardware. When wind, darkness, and medical risk collide, drones stop being optional and start being decisive.