NY Search for Missing Hunter Hits Day Five

(CN) - There is still no trace of the 82-year-old man reported missing four days ago by his hunting party in the Adirondacks, New York officials said Thursday.

A statement by the Department of Environmental Conservation identifies the man in question as Thomas Messick, of Troy, N.Y.

Last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, coveralls and a red & black plaid hat, Messick is 5-foot-10 and weighs 160 pounds.

A hunting party had reported Messick missing Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. when he failed to rendezvous with them in the Lake George Wild Forest, near Lily Pond, in Horicon, N.Y.

After four forest rangers searched the Lily Pond area until midnight with no results, the search picked up again Monday. A New York State Police Aviation Unit helicopter participated in the search for three days when weather permitted.

Forest rangers say "steep terrain, wet lowlands, thick vegetation, cold temperatures, wind, snow and rain have made search efforts on the ground difficult."

There are now 145 individuals from 15 agencies and organizations looking for Messick, according to a statement from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

They have covered nearly 2,500 acres of ground, and conducted more than 80 miles of linear search, in addition to an air search which covered many more thousands of acres.

DEC Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement that help is needed from experienced volunteers to locate Messick in the Adirondacks.

"Forest Rangers are requesting trained search volunteers, especially members of volunteer fire departments that have taken a basic wildlands search skills course, to report to the Horicon Fire Department early on Saturday to participate in a 7:00 a.m. briefing," the DEC's statement continues.

The Horicon Fire Department is located at 6589 State Route 8, Brant Lake, N.Y., approximately four miles east of Exit 25 of the northbound Interstate 87.

Anyone with information on Messick should call forest rangers at 518.897.1300.

When the department announced that it had been unable to find Messick after the first day of search Monday, it incorrectly described him as age 83.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit