CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The group that helped search for Lonzie Barton and Caylee Anthony is now joining the effort to find a missing 79-year-old man.
Teams have spent that last three days looking for Hal Warth Sr., who was reported missing on Monday.
So far, they've covered more than 350 acres near Jennings State Forest. About two dozen volunteers have helped officers from various law enforcement and rescue agencies search. That includes people bringing water and snacks, walking on foot and even riding on horse. Wednesday, Action News Jax spoke to one man who rode all day as the search for Warth continued but ended without success.
“We haven't even found any trace of him,” said Hal Warth II, the son of the missing man.
The younger Warth said his father was last seen Sunday walking toward his home in the area of Jennings State Forest. Wednesday, officers and volunteers continued to search for the missing 79-year-old. The Action News Jax Skyvision drone was able to capture video of the command post and tough search conditions.
“Officers are having to cut their ways through, using machetes,” said Ronnie Gann, captain of the patrol division with the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Neighbor and volunteer Kenny De Long says there are “steep banks, a lot of palmettos, stumps, dead trees.”
De Long and his horse Spyder helped in the search.
“You have a better sight line because you’re up above everything. So you’re looking kind of down in,” De Long said.
De Long has lived in the area for more than 20 years. He said the land can be tricky and the forest unforgiving.
Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:
- Owner of dogs seized after fatal Jacksonville animal attack says his dogs were provoked
- Family defends woman accused of putting 4-day-old son in refrigerator
- Drunken driver cries after learning he injured crash victims
- Mom faces drug charges after toddler accidentally calls 911
[ More popular and trending stories ]
"There’s some serious dangers out there, it’s not a playground,” De Long said.
Wednesday, De Long rode more than 7 miles. The search ended around 5 p.m. but rescuers and family remain hopeful.
“I have no speculation at this point. I mean best-case scenario, he walked off in the wrong direction for whatever reason and he’s still sitting there waiting,” Hal Warth II said.
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler joined the search for several hours Wednesday morning and expressed his thanks for everyone public safety members and volunteers involved.
The Sheriff’s Office says barring any major developments, the search will continue through Thursday, so available volunteers should come to the CCSO command post at either 9 a.m. or at noon to check in, sending groups out in shifts.
Volunteers need to be dressed in long pants, thin shirts with sleeves, and boots or tennis shoes, and use bug spray too.
Manpower from Northeast Florida Emergency Management should also be available Thursday, along with staff from Texas EquuSearch’s Florida Chapter.