News 12 has learned that a missing woman from Putnam County who was featured by News 12 earlier this week has been found alive – years after she last contacted her family.

The woman’s mother is now crediting the police, volunteers and News 12.

“I am overwhelmed with happiness and very grateful. I was at church this morning when I got the phone call that the Putnam County Sherrif’s Department just located her in New York City,” says Valerie Buchanan, who lives in Carmel.

Buchanan reached out to News 12 in February saying the 40-year-old stopped communicating with family in 2021 - shortly after her roommate was murdered in the Bronx.

The woman said in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that police refused to help her for years.

“The police departments looked at me like she’s 40 years old, so she doesn’t want to be found, and I said that’s not true,” Buchanan says.

News 12 spent weeks making calls to NYPD, state police and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, who Buchanan says finally agreed to take the case last week.

“I could not have done it without you, Blaise, and the phone calls you made. I’m very grateful for you, and my community and my local sheriff’s department and Hope Alive 845.”

Buchanan believes her daughter was being trafficked but says police have yet to confirm any details about the case, other than that Savnik is now safe. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says Savnik was found with the help of NYPD.

They are not releasing any additional information about the case.

Buchanan says after all this time she can’t wait to speak with her daughter again.

“I want to say that I love you so much," she says.