Real Name: Jean Hilliard Vig
Case: Medical Mystery
Location: Lengby, Minnesota
Date: December 20, 1980
Case[]
Details: On the night of December 20, 1980, nineteen-year-old Jean Hilliard was driving to her parents' home in Lengby, Minnesota, along a country road. While on the way, her car slid off the road and became stuck in a ditch. Instead of waiting for help, she decided to walk a few miles to her friend's house in the below twenty-five-degree weather. She was hardly dressed for it, with just a jacket, pants, and cowboy boots. As she continued to walk, the heat was leaving her body. After an hour, she made it to her friend's house. However, before she could reach the door, she collapsed.
The following morning, Jean was discovered frozen solid and near death in her friend's front yard. Due to her condition, none of her limbs would bend and she was unconscious. The frostbite was severe over her entire body. Her core temperature was dangerously low. She was rushed to the hospital where everything was done to save her life, but the outlook appeared grim. If she survived at all, it was likely she'd come out of it with possible brain damage or a double leg amputation.
A hospital worker contacted her pastor and told her about Jean's condition. A prayer chain began throughout the area; by the end of the day, more than thirty people were praying for her. Just two hours after the chain began, she went into violent spasms. This was a good sign that her life was returning to her. However, doctors were still not optimistic.
The next day, despite the seriousness of her frostbite, Jean awoke. Everything seemed to be fine with her mind and body. It was soon clear that nothing would have to be amputated from her and that she would recover. After forty-nine days in the hospital and in defiance of everything known about frostbite, she was released. Since then, she has made an astonishing recovery and has suffered no later ill effects.
Jean is now married with three children. She believes that along with the doctors and nurses, the prayer chain helped to save her life.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the February 9, 1996 episode.
Results: Unsolved
Links:
- Jean Hilliard on Unsolved.com
- Freezing Survived
- Frozen woman survives
- 19-year-old survives being frozen stiff
- Dakota Teenager Recovers After Being "Frozen Stiff"
- Physicians Say Frozen Survivors Not So Rare
- "Miracle" of hypothermia not all that rare, doctors say
- Frozen almost solid
- Frozen. Thawed. Not dead: Jean Hilliard's amazing Minnesota story
- Jean Hilliard: Miracle on Ice