Search on in Keene for missing man

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September 3, 2008

<a href="mailto:kdedam@pressrepublican.com">By KIM SMITH DEDAM</a> The Press Republican Wed Sep 03, 2008, 06:42 PM EDT

KEENE — Department of Environmental Conservation officers and area firefighters are searching a section of mountain forest for a Keene man.

Jeremy Quinn, 38, was reported missing about 8 p.m. Tuesday, officials said.

The search began as night fell and continued Wednesday.

DEC spokesman David Winchell said nearly 50 people, including forest rangers, Essex County sheriff’s deputies, firefighters from Lake Placid, Keene Valley and Keene and other volunteers were combing woods northeast of the intersection of Routes 9N and 73.

“Family members became concerned after learning that Mr. Quinn had not gone to work,” Winchell said. “He was last seen at approximately 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2, and his unattended vehicle was located at approximately 7 p.m. at a private camp on Hickey Lane in the Town of Keene.”

A Keene native, Quinn is a caretaker for several area camps and works at the AuSable Club. His wife, Sheryl, is employed by DEC, and the couple have two young children.

Keene Supervisor Bill Ferebee said the community remains optimistic that Quinn is all right.

“He was born and raised here; he is very familiar with the land.”

Ferebee, who has known Quinn since he was a baby, characterized the missing man as “straight-laced, a salt-of-the-earth guy.”

A search command headquarters was established at the Town Highway Garage near the transfer station.

By Wednesday evening, the entire parking lot was filled with vehicles of police, rangers and volunteers. The big double-bay garage doors were wide open, with a check-in station set up along two tables at its entrance.

“The terrain is not easy,” Ferebee said of the landscape being scoured.

DEC Forest Ranger Capt. John Streiff said they were searching a large but confined area bounded by roads.

“It doesn’t mean we’re not looking beyond the roads,” he said.

“We found his vehicle, but no Jeremy. We will keep it up until we’re confident we’ve searched the entire primary area.”

DEC executed three main types of searches, including the intensive Type 3, which involves walking in a close-knit grid “where you can see the next searcher’s feet,” Streiff said.

That process was possible due to the outpouring of support.

“The cooperation is phenomenal,” the captain said.

Aerial search teams assisted by flying low over fields, as several canine units from both State Police and DEC officers worked the ravines.

The humid, 80-plus-degree weather wore on into the afternoon, with thunderheads threatening rain.

Teams of volunteers could be seen walking along ditches and open roads, scouring the landscape for miles around the command center.

Pickup trucks loaded with dusty volunteers pulled out of Hickey Lane to rehydrate before going back to the woods.

Streiff said the search would be called off at dark and resume today, if necessary.

So far, nothing has turned up leading to any suspicion of foul play.

“Until we find a clue to the contrary, we’re looking for a missing person,” Streiff said.

Hickey Lane is a dead-end road off Schaefer Road, which connects 9N and Hurricane Road.

The area includes steep terrain below the 1,742-foot summit of Corliss Mountain and the 2,083-foot summit of Jackson Hill.

Quinn is white, about 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with blue eyes and a shaved head.

Anyone with information that may help locate him is asked to contact State Police at 897-2000.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:

kdedam@pressrepublican.com