02-06-2011, 02:14 PM
NEW BRAUNFELS — Searchers in southeast New Braunfels were unable to locate 18-month old Joshua Davis overnight — and police say they're transitioning from a search-and-rescue mission to a "recovery mode."
New Braunfels Police Department Lt. Michael Penshorn, during an 8 a.m. Sunday press briefing, said the decision was made to switch to recovery mode because of the length of time the boy has been missing and because of the freezing and near-freezing temperatures that have been experienced since the boy was last seen at his home in the 2600 block of Savannah Hill Circle on Friday evening.
"As of right now, we're looking at about 36 hours (that he's been missing) and considering the weather conditions, I guess common sense would dictate that at this point we would in all likelihood be looking at more of a recovery than rescue operation."
"Cadaver dogs have been brought in as part of that transition," said Penshorn. "The cadaver dogs are more toward the presumption that the child may possibly be deceased."
He said the police department is operating under the assumption that the child simply wandered off.
"We don't have anything to indicate to us that it is an abduction," Penshorn said.
Searchers now will focus on checking areas that weren't searched earlier by foot.
"Most of those areas will include some very large areas of property that we haven't been able to search as of yet. The access is a little more difficult. Some of them have very difficult terrain and very thick vegetation. Also there are several large ponds that we'll in all likelihood bringing in dive teams to check."
All-terrain vehicles will also be brought in to be used by searchers.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter has aided in the search, as have hundreds of volunteers as well as search-trained officers and K-9 teams from across the state.
The civilian volunteers are no longer being used.
"We did have an aerial drone that's come in. I'm not sure exactly where they brought it in from," the lieutenant said. The drone was used to check a lot of the areas outside of the main search area, a 1-mile perimeter centered on the child's home.
Officers continued to search on the ground overnight and also checked-up on called-in leads. Nothing came of those tips, he said.
Anyone with information should call (830) 221-4570.
New Braunfels Police Department Lt. Michael Penshorn, during an 8 a.m. Sunday press briefing, said the decision was made to switch to recovery mode because of the length of time the boy has been missing and because of the freezing and near-freezing temperatures that have been experienced since the boy was last seen at his home in the 2600 block of Savannah Hill Circle on Friday evening.
"As of right now, we're looking at about 36 hours (that he's been missing) and considering the weather conditions, I guess common sense would dictate that at this point we would in all likelihood be looking at more of a recovery than rescue operation."
"Cadaver dogs have been brought in as part of that transition," said Penshorn. "The cadaver dogs are more toward the presumption that the child may possibly be deceased."
He said the police department is operating under the assumption that the child simply wandered off.
"We don't have anything to indicate to us that it is an abduction," Penshorn said.
Searchers now will focus on checking areas that weren't searched earlier by foot.
"Most of those areas will include some very large areas of property that we haven't been able to search as of yet. The access is a little more difficult. Some of them have very difficult terrain and very thick vegetation. Also there are several large ponds that we'll in all likelihood bringing in dive teams to check."
All-terrain vehicles will also be brought in to be used by searchers.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter has aided in the search, as have hundreds of volunteers as well as search-trained officers and K-9 teams from across the state.
The civilian volunteers are no longer being used.
"We did have an aerial drone that's come in. I'm not sure exactly where they brought it in from," the lieutenant said. The drone was used to check a lot of the areas outside of the main search area, a 1-mile perimeter centered on the child's home.
Officers continued to search on the ground overnight and also checked-up on called-in leads. Nothing came of those tips, he said.
Anyone with information should call (830) 221-4570.