JoCo SAR's search for missing CA man

Mar 24, 2011  by Ann McGloon

Elijah, a young man from California reported missing by his family last week, is still missing and they have great concern for his well-being and mental health. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, Josephine County Search and Rescue scoured the area around the Manzanita Rest Stop in Merlin, where Elijah's car was discovered. Five K9's (including trailing, air scent, and cadaver dogs) and a large ground team spent the day covering the area searching for any clues or sign of the missing. At day's end, no major discoveries were found. Two of the K9's showed some interest in an area along a creek but were unable to follow-up on whatever scent they had captured. Handlers studied the terrain and wind patterns and decided the best course of action would be to search a scrub and wood covered (and tick infested) piece of land the  following day just south of where the dogs had shown interest. So, early on Wednesday two K9 teams and three flankers cleared the parcel. After a short time of searching one of the dogs alerted to the presence of human scent by jumping forcefully on their handler and took the team through the dense brush. The only thing discovered, however, was a large camp where several homeless persons were living; and probably what they had scented the day before. But, no sign of Elijah.   

Comments

[Ernie Coffman]

Here's a link to a video of the SAR troops going about their business, looking for this missing guy from Hayward, CA

http://www.ktvl.com/video/?videoId=847607536001&play=now