Search Continues For Missing Father In Oregon Wilderness
ZAHN: We've got some surprising new details that are unfolding in our top survival story tonight. A San Francisco family's life and death struggle in the wild. It began on the way back from a Thanksgiving trip to Seattle. Jim and Kati Kim and their two young children vanished in the snowy mountains of Oregon. But yesterday, a miracle -- after nine days Kati Kim and both of her children were found alive. Their story is simply amazing. Tonight, we know how they survived but we don't know where Jim Kim is or if he's still alive. Thelma Gutierrez has been following this search for the Kims and just filed this report.</s>THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the back of the chopper than rescued them, Kati Kim clutches her baby.</s>LT. GREGG HASTINGS, OREGON STATE POLICE: The helicopter saw her with the umbrella, waving frantically, saw the vehicle. It was the same color, put one and one together and realized that he had the right equation.</s>GUTIERREZ: It was a mother's desperate attempt to save her small children, stranded for nine days in their car on a desolate road in the freezing snow.</s>HASTINGS: I think everyone has been amazed at the fact that they were found alive.</s>GUTIERREZ: The family's ordeal began the Saturday after Thanksgiving. James and Kati Kim of San Francisco and their two daughters, 4-year-old Penelope and 7-month-old Sabine, were on their way to the Oregon coast on a back country road when their Saab station wagon became stuck in the snow. To survive, James and Katie ate berries and drank melted snow. What little they had, rice crackers and baby food, they fed to the children. Kati told hospital staff she breast fed both of her kids to keep them alive. The Kims also burned car tires to signal for help and to fend off frostbite.</s>HASTINGS: Working as a group together to stay warm at night, conserving their fuel, having their engine run every now and then just so they can get the car warm.</s>GUTIERREZ: After a week out in the wilderness with no help in sight, James Kim set out to look for help. That was Saturday morning.</s>BRIAN ANDERSON, UNDERSHERIFF, JOSEPHINE COUNTY: We were able to find his footprints up the roadway and then they went into that drainage.</s>GUTIERREZ: The only thing search and rescue workers have found so far, a pair of pants laying on the ground that searchers believe belong to James Kim.</s>GUTIERREZ: Now, authorities told us a short time ago that they are not exactly sure what the significance of that pair of pants might be. They did tell us that it happened to be an extra pair of pants that James Kim took out with him when left the car and they say he's a resourceful person. They believe that he may have left them behind to let search and rescue teams know they are looking in the right area, and that's exactly what they are hoping for tonight -- Paula.</s>ZAHN: I think that's what we're all hoping for. Thelma Gutierrez, thanks. "LARRY KING LIVE" coming up in a few minutes. Hi, Larry, who is joining you tonight?</s>LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Paula. Coming up, the outrageously funny Kathy Griffin, queen of Hollywood's D-list. Her first TV interview since her near death experience high about Southern California last week. Anything funny in that? And what dirt did she dig up backstage at last night's star- studded Billboard Music Awards? All ahead with Kathy Griffin at the top of the hour. Paula, have you seen her work?</s>ZAHN: I have. I think she's hysterical. And I bet you that list is pretty long that she drew up last night.</s>KING: You're not kidding.</s>ZAHN: I hope she goes through it all for us tonight. Larry, have a good show.</s>KING: We'll run it down.</s>ZAHN: We wish her the best.</s>KING: Thanks, Paula.</s>ZAHN: Thanks, look for you at 9:00. Tonight's top story in health is about a very dire warning. Coming up next, new research says that one in 1,000 new mothers is affected by something that is much more dangerous than postpartum depression.