Search for missing man suspended
Crews gather for a morning briefing on Friday, Sept. 8, as they gathered in effort to find Mark Brackebusch, 73, who was reported as missing Aug. 31.
(Photo courtesy BOUNDARY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)
The Boundary County Sheriff's Office and the Boundary Search & Dive Rescue Team said they have made the tough call to suspend a search for Mark Brackebusch, 73, who was reported missing on Aug. 31. Brackebusch is believed to have been in the forest since around Aug. 25.
On the final day of the search over 60 rescue personnel representing 20 organizations across five counties in three states were organized into 10 teams to search for Brackebusch, Andrew O'Neel, Boundary County public information officer, said. Among the many searchers on Friday were several dog teams, a specialized man-tracking team, and helicopters from Spokane Valley Search and Rescue and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews began the search for Brackebusch Friday, Sept. 1, and kept up the search until Friday, Sept. 8. O'Neel said an average of 15 a day volunteers put in roughly 2,400 personnel hours over an eight-day period searching the wilderness near the Shorty Peak trailhead, near where Brackebusch’s vehicle was found.
"Search patterns covered approximately 6,000 acres, but searchers were unable to locate any further signs or evidence," O'Neel said in a press release.
In such searchers, O'Neel said managers consult statistics based on lost-person behavior, which were then used to develop strategies and tactics for searching a prioritized list of areas with highest probability of success.
Also factored into search are location, terrain, weather, available resources, and the subject’s relevant characteristics, such as age, and physical condition. Also considered are state of mind, clothing, outdoor experience, familiarity with the area, etc).
"Searchers are then deployed in a deliberate, methodical manner to ensure coverage of areas with the highest probability of success first, then work down the priority list. Areas are searched multiple times," O'Neel said.
The sheriff's office continues to seek tips in Brackebusch’s disappearance. Anyone who has heard from or seen Brackebusch since Aug. 25 is asked to contact Boundary County Dispatch at 208-267-3151, extension 0.
The Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team would like to thank the following teams and agencies for their assistance in the search effort, as well as several unaffiliated trained volunteers: Bonner County Search and Rescue, Bonners Ferry Civil Air Patrol Flight, Boundary Ambulance, Boundary County Chaplains Corps, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Boundary Hikers, Curley Creek Volunteer Fire Department, David Thompson Search and Rescue of Libby, Mont., Hall Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, Idaho Disaster Dogs, Idaho K9 Task Force, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit, Kootenai County Fire Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Kootenai County Volunteer Search and Rescue, North Bench Fire Association, Paradise Valley Fire District, Spokane County Search and Rescue, Spokane Valley Search and Rescue, Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Office, and Spokane Valley Volunteer Search and Rescue.
If you are interested in helping to find and rescue lost people, contact the Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team, go online to bsdrt.org to learn more.