Missing 62-Year-Old Found Less Than 1 Mile From Home

Kathleen Shino was ensnared in mangroves and mud about three-quarters of a mile from her home when rescuers found her Tuesday.

The 62-year-old, a resident of 1332 Brightwell Drive, Holiday, was reported missing by her family at 2:30 p.m Sunday, two days after they last called her.

About 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Shino was found up to her neck in mud and tangled in mangroves in a wooded area on the shore of a lake, according to a news release from Kevin Doll, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. The location is behind a shopping center at 1132 U.S. 19 in Holiday, according to the release.

A neighbor heard a faint cry for help coming from the lake’s shore Tuesday. Pasco County Fire Rescue had to cut away mangroves with a chainsaw to get Shino out, according to Doll.

Shino has rheumatoid arthritis, said Bobby Fusco, Shino’s son-in-law.

She uses crutches to get around but went missing without them, her cellphone or her keys, according to the sheriff’s office. She was taken to the hospital after she was rescued and was listed in stable condition as of 7:07 p.m., according to the release.

In the evening, her family was at Community Hospital. Shino was conscious and in stable condition, but she did not appear to have eaten since she went missing.

She hadn’t spoken and appeared to be in shock, and the only person she acknowledged was her 8-year-old maternal grandson, Nicholas.

“She’s been staring at his eyes and rubbing his hand since we got here,” Fusco said.

Fusco, an engineer, is married to Shino’s daughter, Kristi. They live with their children, Nicholas and 16-year-old Anthony, in Apopka.

Shino is “for the most part, very independent,” Fusco said.

The family’s last contact with Shino was about 6 p.m. on Friday. Her sister, who lives two doors down from her, checked her house and couldn’t find her.

Shino’s family doesn’t know what happened during the missing time, Fusco said.

“But we’re waiting to find out,” he said.