The family of a missing 85-year-old Livingston County man believes the search has likely become a recovery, according to Sheriff Mike Murphy.
Murphy provided an update July 9 on Jerry Spaulding, who’s been missing since July 5. Both parties are asking the public to refrain from searching other people’s property.
Spaulding, an avid walker, left his home the afternoon of July 5 to retrieve a shirt he’d lost in the woods, Murphy said. His sister, who called in the report, said he didn’t return to his home near Argentine Road, north of Brophy Road. Spaulding was last seen wearing a red and green western-style shirt, blue jeans and work boots.
Public safety agencies used drones with thermal imaging and searched on foot throughout the night, but were unsuccessful, Murphy said. Additional resources joined the search July 6, including search dogs, but to no avail.
“The family has come to the conclusion this is likely a recovery at this point, and Jerry will be found when (he’s) found,” Murphy said in a video on social media July 9.
The ask to cease searches comes after an organized party July 8 that saw people meet at Riddle Cemetery. There was trespassing, according to Murphy, and damaged crops.
An eyewitness reported seeing Spaulding around 7:45 p.m. July 5 on Latson Road near Curdy Road and Brophy Road, Murphy said. A chopper was scheduled for a flyover in that area July 9. Murphy asked area residents to look around their respective properties for Spaulding.
“Keep your eyes open, but halt any searches,” he said.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Murphy: Search for missing 85-year-old ‘likely a recovery at this point’
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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