Missing LA couple found safe near the border

On Friday police said a missing Silver Lake couple have been located near the border with Mexico in good health and will be reunited with their family.

Aaron Morganstein, 33, and Mariya Mitkova, 27, last had been heard from when they left their home in the 2200 block of Shoredale Avenue about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities had thought the couple were headed to Joshua Tree National Park or the Imperial Sand Dunes, and sought public help when they couldn’t be reached.

They were reported missing after failing to return home last weekend.

KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 are now hearing more about their disappearance from their family.

Aaron and Mariya’s parents released the following information to us Friday morning: (We’re still working to confirm this information with the sheriff’s department)

“They were at the Sand Dunes at Osborne Lookout, left their car there on Sunday (their last wifi signal) and went on a day hike to take pictures. They got lost while out on their hike and could see a red light flashing in the distance so they started walking [in that] direction. [They] spent five days walking in the desert without food and little water. In order to conserve their water they also drank their own urine. They saw helicopters flying, and actually were able to light a fire to get attention, but no one was able to see them.

They walked all the way to the cell tower until they ran into some maintenance workers at the tower who then contacted the Border Patrol. The Border Patrol contracted the family and the investigator with LAPD and took them back to their car at Osborne Lookout.

The Border Patrol guided them back out of the park and they are now headed to meet up with family, friends and the rescue team to celebrate.”

KESQ and CBS Local 2 are looking into the details behind their disappearance. We’ll have updates as soon as they’re available.