Posted on 12/20/2004 9:58:53 PM PST by Former Military Chick
The search for 9-year-old Logan Mitcheltree continued Sunday in South Williams, but as of 11:30 p.m. officials had found no signs of the boy, despite hundreds of volunteers having combed every inch of the borough since he went missing Saturday.
Logan, of 1195 Main St., was last seen running east at Market Street and Southern Avenue at around 5 p.m. Saturday, borough Police Chief Rexford Lowmiller said.
He was wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt, blue jeans and brown slippers. He is 4 feet tall, weighs 55 pounds, has short, reddish-blond hair and dark brown eyes.
The youth is autistic and unable to speak, and he reportedly is incapable of finding his way home.
State Forest Ranger Jeff Raisch said Sunday afternoon that officials continue to treat Logan as a missing person and not an abductee.
Everywhere within the scope of the search has been examined three times, Lowmiller said, admitting disappointment and frustration that nothing had turned up.
Borough Mayor William R. Miller said he was heartened to see all of the people giving their time in a community effort, but admitted worrying about the dropping temperatures and the fact that hours of search had so far produced nothing.
Police still were not releasing any information about the Mitcheltree family, other than to say they are holding up well with the help of their minister, family and friends.
The social hall at First Ward Fire Co., 573 Hastings St., served as a command post and hundreds of people filled the room at 2 p.m., waiting to assist in the search. People were put in groups of 10 to 15 and assigned a portion of search area, which spanned from Arch Street to Clinton Township and from the Susquehanna River to Elimsport.
For safety reasons, search parties shifted just before dusk to emergency personnel only.
Volunteer firefighters from South Williamsport, DuBoistown, Loyalsock and Nisbet, rangers from the state Bureau of Forestry, state troopers, Civil Air Patrol members and a sheriff’s deputy planned to work through the night, Lowmiller said. The searchers are using thermal imaging cameras and night vision goggles.
Many civilian volunteers continued to search, he acknowledged, although not under the direction of officials at the command post.
‘‘What we are suggesting to people who want to continue to help,’’ Lowmiller said, ‘‘is that they search their own property, and if their neighbor isn’t home, or is elderly, search their yard, too.’’
He suggested people search under porches or in sheds or garages — anywhere someone might go to get out of the elements. Logan also reportedly likes animals and swing sets.
By Sunday afternoon, more than 350 people had signed up to go out on a search team. Some were members of church groups, some were their because they know the Mitcheltrees, and all wanted to do something.
Other volunteers served sandwiches and drinks to the searchers.
Search outings typically lasted about two hours, with the size of the coverage area determined by the difficulty of the terrain.
The groups, under the direction of a professional, fanned out quickly but proceeded slowly.
‘‘You should go as fast as the slowest person in your group,’’ one man said, adding that people should stay about 30 yards apart.
A Sun-Gazette reporter accompanied a Sunday afternoon search that covered an area from Route 15 south to Bald Eagle Mountain. The proceedings were silent except for the crunch of leaves.
People peered into drainage pipes and inspected piles of brush, instructed to yell ‘‘Find!’’ whenever they came across anything significant.
On that search, the word was never uttered.
‘‘It’s the Sunday before Christmas, and people are giving up their time, helping someone they don’t know,’’ John Nevill of Williamsport said. He said he searched from 12:30 p.m. to dusk, mostly along Route 15.
‘‘We just went out and tried our best to look for him,’’ he said. ‘‘I feel bad we didn’t find him, but at least I tried.’’
The search was made more difficult by a snow squall that blew in about 2:30 p.m., and by 10 p.m. wind gusts at 20 mph made the 15-degree temperatures feel about 15 degrees colder. Temperatures today are expected to reach only the upper teens.
Nonetheless, Lowmiller said he still held out hope that the boy would be found, alive and well.
‘‘We’re hoping he found someplace warm,’’ he said, adding that 20 years ago a man disappeared from his home in the borough, and was found in Washington Township a few days later.
Today, teams were to resume a helicopter search and use boats to scan areas along the river.
A community briefing is scheduled for 7 tonight at the South Williamsport Area High School.
Prince may be reached at kprince@sungazette.com.
In addition to all the other factors of this case, I'm especially prayerful that this boy didn't know the way to the water, or the bridge walkway.
From his last seen location, the river is about 300 yards down a gentle slope.
I just pray he found a doggy somewhere. If he has to be out there, maybe a doggy can keep him home. (Young Michael gave up running to the stone bridge to 'running' about twenty feet to the neighbor's dog pen.)
Praying for the safe return of this adorable little boy and for his family.
If he has to be out there, maybe a doggy can keep him warm away from home.
Elizabeth Smart...I will never forget her name!! She was the one that reinforced my faith...I just knew she was alive.
I pray for the same outcome here...I pray this little boy is reunited with his family!
I knew exactly what you meant. :) I'm keeping your "vision" in my head.
Not a good situation. While I hope he's found "ok", I have to admit it's pretty unrealistic.
Hi. I'd like you to meet Media gender bias.
Yes, they do have a love affair with certain victims.
You had the Smart gal, that after months, she was found wondering the streets. This is not the norm. Nevertheless it drew the media.
Then you had a family in Washington State where a daughter (who attended BYU) went missing and yes she is a Mormon but not yet found.
Then you the one where the husband killed his wife, but, first running around nude and then admitting himself into a psych ward. She was found in the trash dump, rotten just rotten.
Of course you have the gal up north who went missing, pretty, well liked and again vanished without a trace her last words were to her beloved on a cell phone. It took months but they did find the body and the guy who murdered her.
Dunno why the cases above got the coverage, but, they do in theory are giving their viewers and readers what they want.
I am also glad that we can discuss this on FR. Perhaps someone lives in that state or town. Perhaps putting up fliers as well.
You and I both will pray for Logan together. God help him to come home!
ping
Oregon (Not Washington State, I know we're close, but still)...Brooke Wellburger, missing since last Summer!
Prayers going up for the family and Logan's safe return.
I also knew a little boy years ago that because of a good school was making progress, but at home ya blink and he was up on a busy hwy. and often brought home by truckers who found him sitting in the middle of the hwy.
The parents had plenty of funds to put locks on cabinets, he could dump flour, sugar ect. out of the canbinets in a blink too.
I suggested they fence in the huge play yard even the extent of putting a roof of cyclone fence so he could not take of. He spent alot of time locked in his room sadly when financially they could afford to do what ever was needed for him to have a good enviroment.
The parents divorced and I believe the mother gave him up which was not a bad thing as she was not into the whole careprovider scene.
As a special needs mom I know what all you other parents do with love for your kids....
Logan's folks are going through hell I pray they have other parents supporting them who have autistic kids as the general society has not a clue what parents do to care for and all the love involved in special kids.
Amen!
It's a hard row to hoe, especially when the child you see is not the child others see. Other parents don't understand what it takes, and what kind of love it grows to give everything to one of these children. And yes, they are loved, and can love - it's just a very demanding place to be.
God be with his mom and dad; may they have their son come home for Christmas. I know that this is becoming more of a distant chance according to the laws of statistics; but God is God, and all he asks is that we pray, believing. What happens next is up to God, and up to the people listening to Him.
Father, someone knows something. Somewhere, someone hears Your voice. Let them respond, let them be led to Logan. I pray this, believing, In Jesus name...
Exactly.
Dear Lord we all are fervantly praying for Logan and his family.
Please let it be your will that Logan is found safely and in good health with a happy humorous conclusion that will fill the hearts of all those who don't get it.
May he be warm, well fed and safe untill reunited with those who care for him in your Holy name Jesus Christ we lift this child and families needs up to you.
Prayer Bump.
Please hear us, Great King, and Answer our Prayers, according to Your Tender Mercies, and for the Praise of Your Own Glory! Intervene, Merciful Master, Granting a Happy Outcome to this Situation, for Your Mercies' Sake, that we may Praise and Exalt Your Sweet and Holy Name.
Words Fail me, my Lord-King, I can but Cry Out for Your Mercy, Pleading for the Grace of Jesus Christ to Cover this dear child and his distraught family.
Help them, my Master, Send Your Spirit to Strengthen them, and Grant unto us all the Safe Return of this little boy. Mercy, my Master, Mercy... In the Name of our Compassionate Savior, our King, we Pray, amen.
Amen.
Put me on your list, please!
Prayers for this young child's safe return to his family. Dear Lord please guide searchers to this young boy and please stir him to bring good attention to himself so that he can be led to safety.
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