Taken By Devil’s Den State Park: The Disappearance of Katherine Van Alst

► Devil’s Den State Park is located in Arkansas and covers around 2500 acres of land. The park is littered with numerous sandstone caves, bluffs, ravines, dense forestry and mountainous terrain. This is where Eight year old, Katherine Van Alst would come to disappear on the 16th of June 1946.

At the time, she along with her parents and two siblings were staying at their cabin within the Park. Both of Katherine’s brothers were older than her and together they travelled a short distance to go play at a nearby dam that held a pool of water. It was never made entirely clear what exactly happened at the dam, but it appears that at some point Katherine had enough and wandered off back to the cabin alone. It was during this walk that she vanished and in the immediate aftermath, neither the brothers or the parents realized this had happened, that is until the brothers came home without her.

Taken By Devil’s Den State Park: The Disappearance of Katherine Van Alst

[sinfinitylove]

Great story that I surprisingly hadn't heard. I grew up from 79 to 93 on a dirt road just a couple miles from Devil's Den. I spent most days wondering those woods with my dogs. Luckily the one time I got lost enough to get frightened I just told old Duke to take me home and followed him. About 3 hrs later we popped out near a neighbors house(about a 1/2 mile away from mine)and I was so relieved. I was about 9 at the time. Those woods are beautiful and dense and once you get deep in them it can all look the same and easy to get turned around. Thank God for old Duke❤️

[TigerLily]

I've watched a lot of these missing videos and people are always astonished at how far children can travel. It seems they can travel much further than anyone expects.

[Enoo-Wynn]

Your Google earth illustration was powerful. It really brought home the reality of the terrain she traversed.

[meredithgrubb]

U dont even know how much i appreciate this upload Adam. My grandma is dieing from a brain bleed right now and im stuck not being able to be with her just pacing and trying not to freak out. Im going to try and be calm while listening to ur voice. Thanku.

[StephaniePifer]

This always amazes me because I've lived in Arkansas for 43 years. The woods are super dense and almost jungle like. The underbrush will constantly catch your feet and knock you down. I've been hunting and hiking in these woods and it's simply awesome that this child was found.

[richterkennedy]

Smart little girl. She made all the right moves. Seeking shelter from the rain, eating berries and stay close to a water source.Pretty lucky too

[badwolf]

Another good video. It amazes me to no end the differences in maturity of an 8 year old back in 1946 compared to 8 year olds or even 18 year olds in 2022. Katherine Van Alst was one smart cookie by any measure or standard. I wonder whatever happened to her; did she lived a good life? Did she achieve some noteworthy goals in her life? She may even still be alive in 2022.

[jmflyer]

Great video! To answer some things you asked about, and my advice as a Search and Rescue pilot.

1.) The double lane interstate(?) shown on the map, would not have been there in 1948. The interstates in the United States weren't done until the 1950's. (With just a few exception nationwide, that were done in the 40's. But not this one)
So, she would have NOT crossed any major road like we see now.

2.) As for being "way to far" and also due to the terrain??
You need to take into account, all three children had walked the 2.5 miles to the lake. On the over view, to make this walk is also over that same terrain. But only about half as far. There were no doubt paths through the woods leading the 2.5 MILES to the dam and swimming area.

3.) Until pretty recent times, it wasn't out of the ordinary to let children take long walks without adult supervision. This is the way all of us kids in the 40's, 50's and 60's were raised.


4.) What I find most telling in this case, is the compelling difference in this 8 year old childs mind set and behavior, compared to modern day accounts of 8 an year old being lost and then found, and what their reactions are and state of mind is AFTER the event.

After SIX days in the wilderness, the child was calm, and the first thing she calmly said to the adult in the search party was, "Thank You". Not screaming hysterically and crying, OR, clammed up and afraid/unwilling to talk about the entire ordeal in detail.

Another thing to take into account. She was found approx. 5 miles from her camp spot. She had walked about 2.5 miles (or about half way) When she left the lake, she sadly went the wrong direction. However, she traveled about the same distance (2.5 to 3 miles) and STOPPED. And stayed in that spot. In other words, she knew she had traveled far enough to teach the camp, had she gone the right direction. Which she didn't. BUT, she had a calm mind and the common sense to realize she'd gone far enough, so she then stopped traveling.

She had the sense and foresight to know to bed down in the caves at night, and remain outside during the day.
She knew planes were searching, but couldn't get there attention. (Remember, shes 8 years old) She heard dogs but couldn't call them.
She knew to keep eating for strength, and to stay near the pool of water to drink.

I'd just like people to realize this is an 8 year old little girl. She had and used more common sense than many ADULTS in our current modern day have!

This story shows just how terribly far we've allowed the raising of children to fall. Hell, if that happened to a 16 or 17 year old kid now days, you'd have the parents suing the national park due to trails not being properly marked or some other nonsense, and saying their 17 year old will be suffering and traumatized for life due to the event! This story reminds me of the days when I grew up, and the sad state we're in now.

In closing, regarding search and rescue, including dogs not finding her for 6 days, despite her having the common sense to stay put in one spot...
I've written many comments on your past videos, where I've told of my many years working as a Search and Rescue pilot.
And I have stressed every single time, that people now days have this false sense of security, believing that IF they get lost, its not really that big of a deal, because Search and Rescue will be notified and then find them....
I cannot stress enough, that isn't true! Even in the best case scenarios, it's extremely hard to find someone, and very often search and rescue does NOT find them! But people keep falsely believing there's some kind of guarantee they'll be found due to high tech equipment or some other fallacy.
How many times do you hear "Searchers walk shoulder to shoulder searching every foot with a fine tooth comb and found nothing"...? And a week later, they find remains in the exact spot that was searched?
This happens because it's almost impossible to find someone. Not because the body was placed back there after the fact!
It's literally like finding a needle in a haystack. Even with all the high tech equipment, its still a long shot. All that equipment has it's limitations. Each piece of equipment is being operated by a human being. We can't discount the fact of human error also playing into the use of equipment, it happens all the time.

The bottom line is that the person who manages to get lost, almost HAS to do everything right, if their to be found. Like staying in the same spot! Stopping their travel etc..
And then, with a bit of luck we might just be able to find you.
So, adults should be prepared when they enter the woods. They should have the right equipment & clothes, and have the knowledge and ability to easily read and navigate by the paper MAPS and standard inexpensive compass they ALWAYS have in their pack!
If you want to carry a GPS or satellite device? That's fine. But that does NOT eliminate the need to carry maps and a regular compass, and the knowledge in tour brain on how to use them. Why? Because battery operated devices, which are also susceptible to water damage, are a joke when you're lost in the wilderness fighting for your life.
Be smart & be safe.

[nikkinicole]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. I hope your all warm with full bellies and in great health. God bless you all.

[roolenoir]

Merry Christmas from Arkansas! I’ve been to the park and got to go through one of the caves before they shut it down. Something to do with bats.
It’s really woodsy there even in the public paths . I can’t imagine how scared she was. In the dark.

[AarronS]

Awesome man. I just got done reading the book, incident at devil's den. Great book. Thanks for the upload. Merry Christmas brother.

[lotusgirltennille]

Merry Christmas! Even though I watch missing411 & missing persons & mysteries, I watch yours every time & I love your voice, how you do video & how you do your channel .... just awesome!

[reavanante]

I've hiked rural and urban. Most people don't realize how brutal it is to walk, hike over wild terrain. If you're not toughened to it, it jars, shakes and traumatizes your insides. That 5-7 air miles could have easily been 20 by foot. I'd say from the film footage even more. Also, if she stayed by that cave, she wasn't traveling the whole time. The airplanes, dogs and people she heard also seem like overlapping instances of the same physical space, changing like waves or currents in bodies of water. Best Wishes this Christmas and into the New Year.

[pamelanewsome]

Hello Adam, I have been watching many missing channels and I have found your platform to be the most professional and informative. I've conducted my own investigations and you seem to leave no stone unturned. I appreciate your dedication and ability to delivery each case with such interest. Thank you for all you do. Stay safe and know that your hard work is appreciated.

[ronlawrence]

Merry Christmas! 🎄. Great video, thanks for showing the aerial view. Strange she didn’t remember what happened most the time she was gone.

[leeannedenton]

Thank you for the video, wasn't expecting one tonight :) Have a great Christmas + New year :)

[seandelap]

The USA and Canada are both large countries with such vast areas of wilderness and forested areas it really isn't surprising that this happens.

[debbieohara]

Interesting case with plenty to try to figure out. Delighted that the youngster was found safe 🙏
Merry Christmas everyone and here's to a better new year 🎅🤶👼🙏🌠

[dollysmiles]

Other reports say that she mysteriously vanished while bathing with her siblings and not on her way home alone.

[creenation]

Thanks for the hard work & research that you do Adam.

May you & your family have a very Merry Christmas!!.. Take care & stay safe.

P.S. "Merry Christmas to all the wonderful subscribers as well" 🦅