Back In The Woods, Again
The young woman had been missing since August. Her burned car had been found nearby, and on Thursday a tip had come in that she might be found in the vicinity of a park in southwest Atlanta. The call went out through the State Defense Force on Friday for searchers, and yesterday morning 67 soldiers reported for duty. As we waited in the morning chill, others came up the hill by the dozen to join the effort. People from all walks of life, all colors, shapes and sizes, came to search 50 wooded acres. Yuppies with L.L.Bean hiking poles were side by side with rough-looking members of motorcycle clubs. Nation of Islam members stood with folks from Doraville First Baptist Church. We received our instructions, and, united by a common purpose, started on our trek in the woods.
Shortly after entering the woods, an advisory came over the radio that a mentally-challenged man frequented these woods. Often armed with a knife, he was known to approach people looking for a fight. It didn't take long for me to locate two sturdy walking sticks for myself and the captain I was assigned to, and she was glad to have it as well. Our team of 15 searched at the end of the line of GSDF personnel over rugged terrain and through thick undergrowth. We had not progressed more than 50 yards when it was reported over the radio that a white Nike shoe had been found, matching the description of what the young woman was wearing. Then another team located a shotgun. Not long after, the call came in that skeletal remains had been found. We were ordered to continue the search. A pair of pants and a bone was located by our team, though that bone was likely not human. All finds were reported and marked so that police investigators could check them. Finally we were told to end our search and return. We were told of the finds and what was being done from this point on. Police wanted time to examine what had been found, but the search might resume at a later date.
The mother and grandmother of the missing girl were there, and were so gracious to everyone. I saw the mom off to one side as I was leaving and walked over to her. She hugged me and thanked me for what I had done, and I told her I'd remember her and her family in my prayers. How hard it must have been to think that the search for her daughter might have just ended with a few bones in the forest.
This morning the newspaper said that police are not sure that the remains belong to the missing girl, that we may have actually stumbled onto another homicide. It will be several weeks before DNA testing will confirm the identity.
It is good to think that I was a part of something that assisted a family in need. That is why I joined the GSDF nearly a year ago - so in ways big or small, I could help make a difference.
Shortly after entering the woods, an advisory came over the radio that a mentally-challenged man frequented these woods. Often armed with a knife, he was known to approach people looking for a fight. It didn't take long for me to locate two sturdy walking sticks for myself and the captain I was assigned to, and she was glad to have it as well. Our team of 15 searched at the end of the line of GSDF personnel over rugged terrain and through thick undergrowth. We had not progressed more than 50 yards when it was reported over the radio that a white Nike shoe had been found, matching the description of what the young woman was wearing. Then another team located a shotgun. Not long after, the call came in that skeletal remains had been found. We were ordered to continue the search. A pair of pants and a bone was located by our team, though that bone was likely not human. All finds were reported and marked so that police investigators could check them. Finally we were told to end our search and return. We were told of the finds and what was being done from this point on. Police wanted time to examine what had been found, but the search might resume at a later date.
The mother and grandmother of the missing girl were there, and were so gracious to everyone. I saw the mom off to one side as I was leaving and walked over to her. She hugged me and thanked me for what I had done, and I told her I'd remember her and her family in my prayers. How hard it must have been to think that the search for her daughter might have just ended with a few bones in the forest.
This morning the newspaper said that police are not sure that the remains belong to the missing girl, that we may have actually stumbled onto another homicide. It will be several weeks before DNA testing will confirm the identity.
It is good to think that I was a part of something that assisted a family in need. That is why I joined the GSDF nearly a year ago - so in ways big or small, I could help make a difference.
posted by Jennifer at 1:39 PM
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