GLEN SPEY, NY - Dozens of emergency personnel, including fire, police, and EMS units from Sullivan and Orange Counties (NY), National Park Service rangers and administrators, and family and friends of a missing 36-year-father of two from Glen Spey spent more than a week on scene, scouring steep, densely wooded Sullivan County terrain seeking his location.

The body of this missing man was finally discovered in a remote swampy area where he is believed to have become lost, and lost his life, after exiting his car with a friend. The deceased individual and a male friend who was him had experienced a flat tire on a Sullivan County back road near Galligan Road on the evening of March 30th. The friend was able to make it safely out of the woods and back home, while the missing man did not. He reported his friend missing the following morning.

Despite an intense search by foot, UTV and ATV, drone and helicopter, the steep wooded terrain kept dozens searching without results for more than a week. While the week-plus search took place, firefighters and volunteers from Cuddebackville Fire Department brought food to the scene, including a barbeque grill they operated for meals. Other individuals also supplied food and water throughout the week, which allowed for a continuous search.

The early spring weather was rough for anyone stranded in the woods during the time period of the search, with temperatures dipping to near freezing at night, and heavy rain and wind. While the search area was in Sullivan County, the area is covered by Orange County Fire District. Units from both counties were active in the search.  

The family expressed their gratitude for the many officials and volunteer searchers from the region who were continuously on scene throughout the week, and helped to locate their missing loved one on April 7th.

Some of the agencies involved were Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police troopers, canine division, and air support with drones and helicopters, New York State Department of Environmental Control’s Division of Forest Protection, Federation Search and Rescue, and members of Cuddebackville, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, Forestburgh, and Port Jervis Fire Departments, with UTVs, ATVs, and conducting on foot perimeter and line searches.