Once my friend Cynthia reads this I am in big trouble....
Yesterday I was running a fever of 100+...so we decided with all the stress I
have had, NOT to go to the show way over in Memphis. I was feeling guilty and
sorry for myself...and promised to get rest and down time. So I had an early bed
time, and the pups let me sleep till almost 6 AM again. I got up to feed them,
and Ray took care of all the rest. I crawled back in and drifted back to sleep
with the thought, "Cynthia will be happy, I am following her orders."
Oh, then the phone rang...and the whole day changed. Death stood waiting for a
23 year old boy who was missing. It has been so very cold for Arkansas...but the
car had been found and the boy was still missing.
I was on stand-by and they would call me as soon as we could get the plan about
the search. I spent the next 20 minutes hoping I could reach my unit members.
First one, then another machine answered...and I began to get frustrated. Sharon
with Bubba and Pete had gone to Mississippi for a CSI training session. I had
stayed home with pups and was to go to the show in Memphis on Sun. Wellllllllll,
I finally reached Marty on her cell phone. She and Michelle were there in MS
too! Oh Goody. That leaves the Sarschips all alone to hold the search. And a
sick handler. GREAT way to conduct a search, I thought!
I reached Ray Allen , a new recruit..."Hey man...ready to earn your wings? We
are about to fly. Coming along? OK...meet you there."
I arrived at 1 PM and low and behold...about 2 years ago I had tracked a walk
away from his house, to the freeway ramp onto I 40. I had ended the search at a
small farm road, just before the Kerr Station road Exit. Welllll, that is where
THIS search would start. And as I stood listening, I understood the car had been
found back 1½ miles from this point, and we'd have to drive to a point and take
a 4 wheeled vehicle into the last known point.
After we loaded the dogs into two trucks...cage for one...poor Magic...we drove
to the beginning of the track into the "fields". Now for those who have never
come to Arkansas...we have lots of RICE fields...and they are built with levees
around them, somewhat like ponds. (Only not very deep). On the west, fields
under water...on the east, woods under water...about 2" to 3" deep. Yes...I
stayed on the road and sent FOX and Ray sent Wooly in to the shore lines to
search for clues.
I walked the mile along the top of this levee, Ray Allen as my Flanker, and
three times Fox picked up scent. I continued...all the way to the end. Ray B was
parallel to me, 1/4 mile away. We paced each other. At the end, we turned and
started back...Fox once again alerted...so Ray Allen, Flagged to mark the spots.
As I am searching, the Police Helicopter came to "help" and was scattering scent
all over the place...but still he gave a firm alert to the same area.
I moved on to report our interest, and as I stated where, a deputy asked me to
bring the dog...we have his clothes. The helicopter had found Bright Orange
Socks...and pants, a white shirt in the middle of this wet wooded area. And as
we entered the woods, Fox took off. Running ahead, he approached the downed tree
with the clothes. I called him back, not wanting to mess up the clues. I asked
to "check" to see if Fox could tell if they had blood or something...He didn't
alert, just said yep...they're his. And began to move off to follow the track.
RIGHT TO THE PLACE HE HAD ALERT FROM THE ROAD. By this time he is running.
Ray B had joined me, and Wooly was hot on the tracks...and when he reached me,
both dogs worked together to check out the scent...and tracked it back to the
clothes...hummm which way was he going?? Ray Allen and I then spread out and did
a full circle sweep about 350' out...nothing. (Remember the helicopter..) and
Fox was dancing on the wind. Lift...scent...circle. He was out there somewhere.
Slowly we circled...nothing solid. So Ray B went back to the clothes and told
Wooly to FIND...he took him right back to the same tree.
I asked the Sheriff to follow us, and told Fox to "Find" ..and he moved off
to...THE TREE. We had not a clue why...so I started piecing things...and climbed
back across the water, up the bank, and set him to track...and off he went to
the second area...and down to the water...humm...did he UNdress, cross the
water, go down the road...and into the water?
It was now getting dark. The dogs had been fabulous and were working like kids
again (thanks to the meds!) I began to worry about the time...it was close to
losing the light, and we need to be out of this swamp soon.
I made one more sweep, and by that time Ray B had gone and come back
with...MAGIC. Fresh and ready, I turned him loose...crazy dog...he was off and
running...circles, zigzags and boom...straight to where Fox had alerted on the
shore of the water. Again he ran...flip around and came back to the water. It
was time to pull, as the dark came in fast. I climbed back to the road...both
dogs still working. And we headed out. 4 long hours...tired people...tired
Schips. STILL no recovery.
We meet tomorrow at 8 AM in the Sheriff's office...so stay tuned...
Sorry Cynthia...you will learn I only obey when there is not a search..<G> So
here I sit, wrapped in a blanket, rice foot warmer on my lap...sleepy puppies
and ready for sleep. I have taken an antibiotic, aspirins, and now about to take
Nightquil and it's to bed...but I just had to share...Fox and Wooly and MAGIC
are back and working...now the handler...we'll have to see if I can get better
for tomorrow.
[Stories Home] [Burning Need] [The Flood] [Molly] [Aaron] [Just Another Day] [Water Search] [Mock Search] [Murder Most Foul] [GoneFishing] [Once Again] [Cossatot River Search] [Return to Life] [Too Old for This] [Lord Vincent] [Up From The Depths] [Citizenship] [Search Schip] [Marmaduke Search] [Lilly and Jamie] [White Water Killer] [Blood, Sweat 'N Cheers]
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