Another weekend search turns up no signs of Swanson
By Rae Kruger
Another weekend of searching resulted in no sign of Brandon Swanson, a search organizer said Sunday.
Swanson, 19, of Marshall has been missing since May 14. Swanson disappeared after a cell phone call with his parents ended abruptly. Swanson had told his parents his car went into a ditch near Lynd, but law enforcement later traced cell phone calls to a tower near Minneota. Swanson's car was found near Taunton, northeast of Lynd, along the Lincoln and Lyon County line road and near the Yellow Medicine River.
"There is nothing new. We found nothing that belonged to Brandon," said Gary Peterson, who has been working with Swanson's parents, Brian and Annette Swanson of Marshall, and area law enforcement since shortly after Swanson was reported missing.
Volunteers, emergency personnel and law enforcement have used walkers, boats, horseback, all-terrain vehicles to search areas of Lincoln, Lyon and Yellow Medicine Counties and bodies of water including the Yellow Medicine River, since May 14.
"We have not found a piece of clothing. We haven't found a cap. That concerns me. I wish I had a shoe next to the river," Peterson said. "I don't have a pair of shoes, I don't have a cell phone. I wish I had something to convince me what we are doing is correct."
Yet, Peterson said, there is no evidence searchers are doing anything wrong or that something happened to Swanson other than he fell in or near the river, or a field, and died.
"Was there foul play, did someone murder him, did someone pick him up? There is no evidence of that," Peterson said.
Given what searchers and law enforcement know, the search approach and process is correct, Peterson said.
But, it's still frustrating, he said.
After about 11 volunteers and seven search dogs focused on water areas in Lincoln County this weekend it is time to evaluate and determine the next step, Peterson said.
Peterson said he has two other commitments to attend to, but will stay in contact with Lincoln County Sheriff Jack Vizecky and the Swanson family.
"I don't see this as the end of the search," Peterson said. "The search continues."
But the search will be different in the future, Peterson said.
"We will expand the search, but will we narrow it down at the same time," Peterson said.
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volemt
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07-21-08 4:33 PM
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My prayers go out to the family. May you have strength to get you through this time.
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dartiff
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07-21-08 4:04 PM
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Has anyone even searched the area where he said he was supposedly?
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SadieSue
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07-21-08 2:56 PM
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It is hard to believe that there is no sign of Brandon. I really thought this would be the weekend he was found. My continued prayers and thoughts are with the family.
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