Category Archives: BSAR News

Actual Sonar Image of a Body Laying on the Bottom (Please Note: this image is not from the current search or any past search in our region)

High Resolution Side-scanning Sonar Equipment is Traveling Over 3,000 Miles to Assist with the Recovery Effort in Kuskoquak Slough

Yesterday BSAR was contacted by Mr. Keith Cormican founder of Bruce’s Legacy, a Wisconsin-based non-profit organization that provides aid in locating drowning victims. Mr. Cormican has been following the the local recovery efforts on kusko.net/bsar/ and offered his services to our group. He was not requesting any compensation – only that we provide travel expense for himself and his equipment.

His equipment consists of sophisticated side-scanning sonar, which he has used extensively for under water body recovery along with under the ice recoveries.

Prior to speaking directly to Mr. Cormican, we thoroughly reviewed his website: BrucesLegacy.com

We later phoned him and talked at length about his experience and the characteristics of the recovery area that BSAR is currently working in. Based on the information exchanged in this conversation Mr. Cormican was optimistic that if the missing persons are on the bottom of the River, he can locate them with his equipment. His equipment can produce high resolution sonar images of the river bottom for one hundred feet on each side – for a total sweep of 200′ per pass. The River in this area is 800′ wide.

If they are frozen into the ice or suspended somewhere in the slush, his equipment will be less effective but maybe not entirely useless.

On Sunday evening at the daily BSAR debriefing our membership overwhelmingly approved the submission of a request for additional support for the travel expenses of Mr. Cormican to the Alaska State Troopers (AST).

We greatly appreciate the support AST has provided to date for this recovery effort, and felt that this additional support would not only improve the chances of a successful close to this case, but would also give BSAR the initial experience with this type of equipment, that will eventually lead to us toward obtaining and effectively operating our own side scanning sonar equipment for the benefit of recovery operations throughout the entire region.

With the ice is growing thicker each day, recovery efforts become more and more difficult. Due to this, time is of the essence. A written request for travel assistance for Mr. Cormican and his equipment was written that night and submitted to the Alaska State Troopers first thing this morning (December 22).

Our State Representative Bob Herron got wind of our request and followed up directly with the State Commissioner of Public Safety, Gary Folger. Mr. Folger  promptly approved the request.

This good news reached BSAR late this afternoon and we started the planning process for this new assistance immediately. Additional logistical and tactical details were discussed at length during tonight’s debriefing.

Mr. Cormigan will be arriving in Bethel from Wisconsin with his equipment Friday evening, December 26th. He will be brought to the recovery site on Saturday and will have three days to conduct his work.

Area of the Current Recovery Effort

In the meantime, recovery efforts will continue using the normal tried and true methods of our region’s People and their traditional knowledge.

Even after 10 days of cold, wet work our searchers are in good spirits and continue to work well together. If they aren’t successful in the coming days prior to Mr. Cormigan’s arrival, we will look forward to adding this new technology to support our local traditional knowledge.

A big thank you to all the searchers, supporters, Keith Cormigan, the Alaska State Troopers, Commissioner Folger, and Representative Herron.

Sonar Being Used in an Under-ice Recovery

Hardworking Napaskiak Jr SAR team has been working for several days marking the truck trail to Bethel

The good young men have been going out each evening with their Ap’a Earl Samuelson learning how to keep winter travelers safe.

Napaskiak Jr SAR team is recognized at 12-22 BSAR meeting & rewarded with official BSAR jackets

12-21-2014 Before the day started, members of BSAR paid their respects to members of the Demantle family in Akiak before the funeral which began at two in the afternoon. Hopes and prayers were left with the family, hope to find comfort and peace soon before the Christmas holidays.

A quiet day on the Kuskokwak disclosed no new developments in the search for two missing persons. The weather did cooperate though with temperatures hovering about 8 degrees with nary a wind. The boat was launched, drag lines set under the ice and rope pulled over and over until the whole river-bottom was combed over in an area that was not previously searched. 

At the end of the day when everyone gathered for the nightly debriefing near the tents, we all sat around the fire and thought of the day’s efforts. Thoughts of where else can they try? What did they miss? Where else can they go? All the while watching “Eskimo TV” in the fire. While the warmth of the fire provided some relief to the stress of the day’s labors, we hoped individually for the discovery of the two that are still missing. The debrief ended by reciting  the Lord’s Prayer and a commitment to try again the next day.

The plan for 12-22-2014 is to make the trenches longer at the rear of the of the site. Building new trenches, creating new holes in the ice with augers and sweeping a larger area… and using the cameras to hopefully find more clues. Again VPSO Sgt. Daniel “Max” Olick and BSAR are extremely  thankful for all the assistance from Akiak, Kwethluk, Akiachak, Atmautluak, Bethel, Napaskiak,  and Napakiak and all others we may have not mentioned. We still are asking for more volunteers to assist and food to feed them all.    Thank You

All photos courtesy from Earl Samuelson who assisted in the search.

On 12-21-2014 BSAR assisted in the successful search for Adrian Hoffman. Hoffman was reported to have left Kasigluk alone en route to Tununak on Saturday the 20th,  driving alone on a black 800 Polaris at about 6:30 pm.  And was discovered to be overdue by a member of BSAR after learning of it on Facebook on Sunday morning.

The BSAR member and employee of Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife saw information on Facebook from Hoffman’s family that they were concerned about his whereabouts.

A search was initiated today with three aircraft, two of U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s airplanes, a 206 Cessna and a Super-cub. They were also joined by an Alaska State Trooper Super-cub based out of Bethel. All three in coordination followed his snowmachine tracks from Kasigluk to a large lake nearby Baird Inlet.

After the lengthy extensive search with aircraft, Hoffman was found on a large lake in good health but otherwise tired, about 11 miles southeast of Nightmute walking at about 1:26 this afternoon. The AST Super-cub landed, picked Hoffman up and brought him an area where the 206 was able to land on the snow mobile trail which he was transferred to. Hoffman had walked about two miles from his snow mobile after he had experienced engine problems. He was brought to Tununak, his original destination where he was met by his family.

Some areas near Baird Inlet are dangerous to be traveling by snow machine in as there are creeks where the water is flowing despite the colder temperatures. Also be aware of thin ice in the same areas. As a reminder, please file a trip plan with family with when you are expected to arrive at your destination and to take with you a signaling device, like flares or a mirror.

Thanks to U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Alaska State Troopers for their efforts in returning Hoffman safely back home.

All photographs courtesy of BSAR member, Mano Rogers.

The seventh day provided no real definitive results. The area nearby where the four wheeler was found, a piece of red fabric was hooked with the drag bars. And the search continues with many people getting tired and cold. Temperatures today hovered about 10 degrees with a 20-25 north wind so the ice formed quickly hampering progress.

Overview of the site where so much has been done….tireless efforts of so many.

Tomorrow, plans are to drag the bottom of the ice with drag bars that may float underneath the ice. Some believe that more clues will  be found there.  VPSO Sgt. Daniel “Max” Olick is asking for more assistance from people to show up at the site and more food to feed the many that volunteer their efforts.

Photos courtesy of Earl Samuelson, Alaska State Trooper Pilot.

The funeral for Demantle is set for Sunday in Akiak, so many of our members will be attending, paying our respects to the family, sharing in the grief of their loss. Also praying for the family and for swift recovery of those that are still missing so that we all could assist in helping provide closure.

A somber cold day with the wind biting at the volunteers provided no real developments except a sighting or two of debris belonging to the three who fell into the river. Excitement provided the warmth with the views seen with the camera underneath the ice and made possibilities seem much closer.

After seven days, determination is seen in the faces, regardless of fatigue and a strong desire to bring a friend and or someone they knew home. Jokes are told about an old relationship, jokes they played on someone in the “Magii” or steam bath, “burning” someone out where they had to leave outside, or a prank they played on someone when they were kids. Stories of places they’ve been to, moose or caribou they’ve caught and talk about children and families. Speaking more of life while providing the manual labor they endure to cut and move all the encroaching thickening ice and slush or pulling on the ropes which attached to the drag bars drug across the riverbed.

A couple ladies arrived early afternoon with a variety of sandwiches and Shasta pop which the volunteers easily ate and drank during a short break. The coffee pot in the tent was also constantly brewing coffee providing some relief from the cold. All donations of food, waterproof gloves, drinks and other items which may help in the search are always appreciated.

The plan for Saturday is to cut longer trenches, cut more holes with the auger, and use the boat again. A 12 foot pole with attached treble hooks was almost finished today at the search site, but will be ready for tomorrow mornings use. The pole will be used to comb a larger area of the riverbed instead of the 3-4 foot drag bars previously used.

The weather is expected to get colder the next few days, so if you are traveling between communities on the river, please dress warmer and protect those areas exposed to the cold. And if you are traveling to assist in the search, be aware of the cut areas in the ice where thin ice has formed. And check in with VPSO Sgt. Olick or BSAR – Mike Riley.