*** Duck Hunter found Deceased, Alzheimer's Patient Not Found *** From: allenlawrence@webtv.net (Allen Lawrence) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 15:17:22 -0600 To: sarinfo@istar.ca Subject: Two recent SAR missions in Arkansas. Explorer Search and Rescue Post 393 and Canine Special Forces recently participated in two searches. The first occcured on December 27th 1997 involving a duck hunter that had been missing since December 23rd. and presumed drowned. The Perry County Sheriffs Department (Arkansas) had used local searchers (untrained in SAR) to attempt to locate the hunter. Boats and footsearches had been used in the effort. The hunter had been with a partner hunting an 80 acre wooded area that had been flooded for waterfowl habitat. They were communicating with each other via hand-held CB radios. The last transmission heard was the victim telling his partner to pick him up on a road. (Not where he had entered the area). He never came out to the road. After waiting for two hours the partner notified the Sherrif's Office who then called out local V.F.D. members. The search on 23rd December produced no results and was suspended for the day after dark. On the 24th December at daybreak approx. 50 local volunteer searchers and Arkansas Game and Fish Officers resumed the search. The only clue found was a glove that was verified to belong to the victim. Local TV media carried the story on the evening news. ESAR Post 393 and Canine Special Forces called the Sherrif's Office to offer the services of their teams. The Sheriff stated that the search was to be suspended at dark on the 24th. On December 25th the family of the victim resumed their own search effort, with no results. On December 26th (late afternoon) the Sheriff decided to call out outside resources. On December 27th Canine Special Forces was called out. They requested support from ESAR Post 393. (Operations, communications, boat support). Both teams arrived and started at the LKP where the glove was located. All four SAR dogs were very interested in a particular area, but there were no results using snag poles. Search was suspended for the day at dark. On December 28th the search was resumed with a fresh canine trained in cadaver/drowning victims and other canines. Once again, the dogs were interested in one area in particular. A bag of sunflower seeds was found floating in this area. This clue was also verified. Snagging produced the victims hat. A diver arrived on scene after seeing news reports. Water conditions were very muddy (visibility 6 inches), cold (38 degrees f.), clogged with debris, and about 1 to 8 feet deep. The diver, wearing a wetsuit, located the hunter's shotgun near where the hat and sunflower seeds were located. The diver had to come out of the water after approx. 15 minutes due to poor coordination and severe shivering due to the extreme cold. He was treated for mild hypothermia by ESAR medical personnel. The body was located within the next 10 minutes by a Game and Fish Officer with a snag pole within 7 feet of where the shotgun was recovered in 7-8 feet of water. The body was removed and pronounced by the County Coroner who had the body sent to the State Crime Lab for examination. Foul play is not suspected. Local residents provided support and food for the more than 75 searchers who were on scene. The second search occured on 1st Jan. 98 involving a 75 year old lady who has Azheimers disease. She wandered from her house in a rural farming area sometime after 9:00 PM this date. Family members (who live next door) notified Craighead County Sherrif's Office, AR who attempted to locate the victim that night. V.F.D personnel, deputies, Mounted Patrol, up to 15 four-wheeler personnel and others searched an area within a two mile radius thoroughly for the next day. On January 3rd Canine Special Forces and Explorer Search and Rescue were called to the county, which is about 130 miles from their home area. ICS command was established with the ESAR Operations Leader as IC. A Lost Person Questionaire was completed and the teams were briefed. All efforts to this point had been done correctly. The Sherrif's Office had done a thorough search to this point. Using lost person behavior statistics for this category, SAR ground searchers and SAR K-9 teams searched the most likely areas and deployed experienced mantrackers. Tracks were located at about 3/4 mile from the PLS. All drainages were searched for tracks and by cadaver/DV K-9 teams. Bodies of water in the area were also probed and dragged. All hospitals etc. within 50 miles were contacted. The teams searched for approximately 9 hours on January 3rd. The search was suspended for the day at 2030hrs. The Sheriff's Office provided hot food and motel rooms for searchers. The search was resumed at 0700hrs on January 4th. The likely areas were searched again and the residence was continuosly monitored for the return of the victim. At approx. 1300hrs, after meeting with the Sheriff and the Teams leaders, it was decided to suspend the search effort. An investigation effort is ongoing. The victim's survivability was determined to be low due to victims mental status and existing medical conditions. Questions or comments? Notify: Allen Lawrence Operations Leader/Advisor ESAR Post 393 801 Virginia Circle Jacksonville, AR 72076 Phone: 501-982-4256 ------------------------------