Dylan RedwineBy Dan Bender
Special to The SUN
Approximately 310 people took part Saturday in a search that covered 60 linear miles in an attempt to find clues related to 13 year-old Dylan Redwine who has been missing since Nov. 19.
Saturday’s primary search area was several miles on either side of La Plata County Road 240 also known as Florida Road as well as side roads and other locations in the area. There were no new tips that led to Saturday’s search. Florida Road is a common route between Durango and Vallecito where Dylan was last seen. Investigators wanted to cover the route before a series of predicted snow systems enter the area.
Two hundred sixty-three members of the public signed in Saturday morning to take part in the search. After a briefing, the volunteers were assigned to small groups with team leaders from La Plata County Search and Rescue and driven to designated search areas. Busses and drivers were provided by the Bayfield School District. Dylan was a student in Bayfield before moving to Colorado Springs.
Of dozens of items flagged by searchers, 10 were collected by law enforcement investigators for future reference.
All searchers were safely out of the field by 4 p.m.
Besides the citizen volunteers, personnel from at least 17 agencies and groups took part in organizing, supporting, and conducting the search including La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, Durango Police Department, Bayfield Marshal’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colorado State Patrol, Bayfield School District, Southwest Incident Management Team, La Plata County Office of Emergency Management, La Plata County Search and Rescue, Fort Lewis College professor Dawn Mulhern, La Plata County Mounted Patrol, Southwest Colorado Chapter American Red Cross, Durango Fire Rescue Authority, La Plata County Road and Bridge, Upper Pine Fire Protection District and “Durango T” transit system.
A task force of five local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continues to investigate and follow-up on information from the public in their effort to find Dylan Redwine.
The Redwine family expressed their thanks to all the people who took part in Saturday’s search and thank everyone who has supported them and continue to support them in this very difficult time.
Anyone who may have information on Dylan’s whereabouts are asked to contact La Plata County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Dan Patterson (970) 382-7015 or Tom Cowing (970)382-7045. There is a local tip line (970) 382-7511 where tips can be left on an answering machine that is regularly checked by Investigators. Persons can call the local Crime Stoppers at (970) 247-1112. Persons can also call the hotline for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800)843-5678.
