The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

 

Published October 18, 2017

Benton County sheriff thanks OBFPD

BENTON COUNTY – Benton County Sheriff Eric Knox has issued a big thank you to the Osage Beach Fire Protection District’s Search and Rescue team for their assistance in finding a missing man.

On September 24, Benton County Sheriff’s Department (BCSD) Sgt. Andrew Breshears was contacted by concerned neighbors who were worried about Duane P. Georges 54 of Raven Rd. in Warsaw, MO.

Neighbors reported that Georges had not been seen for a couple of weeks.

Breshears and other members of the BCSD responded to Georges’ residence without making contact. A search of the residence and surrounding property produced Georges’ wheelchair behind the residence just inside the wooded area.

Deputies searched the rough, densely vegetated area within a reasonable distance of the wheelchair. Georges was missing his right leg and did not get around very well.

Deputies discontinued their property search and trained their searching on points of contact, cell phone and other electronic means to try and track Georges.

After exhausting all modern efforts to find Georges, a decision was made to return to the property with a search and rescue dog from Osage Beach Fire and Rescue.

On October 4, Handler Shelley Dougan and K9 Jager along with team members Jacob Riemann and Ray Shadow, arrived at the residence in a drizzling rain to continue the search for Georges.

K9 Jager wasted no time in his search for Georges.

Dougan has been a handler for 22 years and a part of this well trained team for 17 years. The team, equipped with a computer aided GPS tracking device, discovered the remains of Georges over an eighth of a mile from his wheelchair in a gully running through the steep hillside on an adjacent property.

“Without the help of K9 Jager and his team, it is doubtful the whereabouts of Georges would have ever been discovered,” Knox said. “It is unknown to us why Georges was where he was. No foul play is suspected at this time.”

The Medical Examiner is still investigating but has not found any evidence to support an unnatural cause of death, the BCSD stated.

“The Osage Beach Fire and Rescue team are a group of highly trained, professional volunteers. Dougan, and her team all work other jobs to pay the bills until a call for service is sent out,” Knox said. “I want to make note about the importance of all our first responders and fire fighters who serve the community. They are largely made up of volunteers who get no pay, and many times no recognition but they put themselves on the line on a daily basis to help the people of this area.”

“Thank you to the Osage Beach Fire and Rescue, specifically to K9 Jager and his team members who are able to locate lost and missing loved ones. Volunteers like these and so many others across our community help to keep us safe. It is the combined efforts of local law enforcement and first responders that preserves our safety. When emergencies arise I am grateful for these dedicated men and women that respond,” Knox concluded.

All content is Copyright 2017 by Reporter Publishing, L.L.C. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without written permission.