Lisa Theris was found alive after going missing in the Alabama wilderness for a month. Credit: WTVY News 4
By Chris Spargo
The Alabama woman who spent a month in the woods opened up about her ordeal in an interview with NBC 12 while showing off her horrific injuries.
Lisa Theris, 25, said she spent 25 days desperately looking for a road or a person while the legally blindand completely naked radiology student survived on berries and mushrooms.
Before and after shots show how Theris lost 18kg due to her ordeal. Photo / WSFA
She drank water from muddy puddles, or if it rained, she would squeeze the moisture out of her hair.
Police are not doubting her story, with the bites and stings covering her legs and arms as well as her 18kg. weight loss seeming to confirm her story.
There are questions however about how she ended up in the woods, and the possibility that she may have been drugged by two men she was with just before she disappeared.
Also of interest is the fact that she emerged just two days after disorderly conduct charges were dropped against her in court, with the former Hooters waitress presumed to be dead.
Police admit that there is a lot more to Theris' story, but state they cannot reveal any additional details at this time.
"You can't imagine how large of an area it was. I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking I would find a person or a house, even if it was empty, but there was nothing. Nothing but nature. That's it," Theris said on Wednesday (US time).
Theris went missing back in July, while at a hunting camp with two other men. Photo / WSFA
Police admit that there is a lot more to Theris' story, but state they cannot reveal any additional details. Photo / WSFA
"I just did what I could. I just knew that when I was thirsty, I had to drink, no matter if the water was dirty or what. I had to get as much of it as possible. Sometimes it would make me very sick."
She then added: "I thank God for the berries. There were always pretty much berries."
She is now recuperating from her injuries, most of which are the result of bug bites and have left her body completely covered in sores and welts.
"I'm just so happy to be home and recuperating. I just thank everybody for the prayers and support. It means a lot," said Theris.
"Just being out of those woods is just the most amazing thing."
She went missing back in July, while at a hunting camp with two other men.
Theris said she would drink water from muddy puddles or squeeze the moisture from her hair. Photo / WSFA
Theris emerged from the woods two days after disorderly conduct charges were dropped against her in court. Photo / WSFA
Police discovered that Theris was with Manley Davis, 31, (right) and Randall Oswald, 36, (left) who allegedly broke into a hunting lodge in Midway before she disappeared. Photo / Troy Police
Manly Davis, 31, and Randy Oswald, 36, were arrested during the time that Theris was in the woods, and both believed to be connected with her disappearance.
The two men have both been accusing the other of having been the last one to see Theris.
Just before Theris went missing she went to a hunting lodge with the man, unaware that they men were planning to rob the location.
Theris is said to have objected to the plan, and soon after found herself alone and naked in the woods.
She was discovered after finally stumbling upon Highway 82 and getting the attention of a motorist from Florida who was passing by and noticed the woman, who she told a 911 dispatcher looked sick and was completely naked.
"She was so wonderful," Theris said of the woman, who gave her clothes and stayed with her as they waited for help.
Theris cannot say much more because of the ongoing investigation in the case and remained remarkably collected while being interviewed, stopping herself from breaking down on the few occasions she seemed to become overwhelmed with emotions.
"I'm just so thankful. I just praise God and I'm so happy to be here right now," she said.
Theris was able to reveal however how she was able to survive, saying she was lucky to avoid coyotes and snakes and that she made a point of sleeping under a tree every night.
