Yesterday the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that 81 year- old Earl Dunn of George Rd. in Hammond, who has been missing for the past five days, was located alive.
He was found around 1:30 in the afternoon in a remote wooded area near his residence.
Dunn was transported to a nearby medical facility for evaluation.
Dunn was last seen at his home around 11:00 a.m. this past Friday. Since his reported disappearance, dozens of personnel, first responders, and volunteers invested hundreds of man-hours in the search and rescue operations by use of helicopter, drone, ATVs, search and rescue dogs, horses, boats, and by foot. The sheriff’s office uniform patrol and reserve deputies, detectives, TPSO’s mounted team, and surrounding Fire Departments searched neighborhoods, combing through the woods, waterways, and surrounding areas throughout the weekend. Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office air support conducted aerial searches of the area, and for the past two days, tracking dogs from Louisiana Search and Rescue (LA S.A.R.) were also actively searching for Mr. Dunn, which all produced negative results until yesterday.
A team was searching a heavily wooded area about 400 yards from Dunn’s residence when they observed him lying on his back in several inches of water. As the team approached Dunn, emotions ran high as they discovered he was alive and coherent.
Chief Jimmy Travis said the cooperation of the workers, volunteers, and family members resulted in a life being saved. He added that you can’t ask for anything better.
