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Search for missing Palmer Lake man aided by volunteers

Posted at 7:16 PM, Sep 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-06 00:03:41-04

PALMER LAKE – Searchers continue looking for 20-year-old Kevin Rudnicki in the mountains southwest of Palmer Lake. He was last seen Sunday morning. When he never returned his family started looking and then called for help.

The number of people searching has grown day to day. “People just keep coming. We’ve had people coming all morning,” said volunteer, Brande Hiatt. A lot of people from small town have set aside other commitments to help with the search. “We’ve got horses today; Flight for Life is here helping today. More people and so it’s building and building so the support is just growing. It’s great,” said volunteer Jacinda Nelson.

The Incident Commander with El Paso County Search and Rescue welcomed the added boots on the ground. The request is for volunteers to check in as they come and go from the scene. “Our goal is to keep track of them and give them some guidance on what areas should be searched where to focus their time and effort. We want to make their time spent out here valuable,” said Incident Commander, Patrick Kerscher.

Despite all the people, evidence of the missing man’s possible location is scarce. “The clues that we’re finding are mostly K9 related clues,” said Kerscher. Dogs have reacted to scents in a few spots, but nothing else has been found at those locations.

El Paso County Search and Rescue said it will search in specific areas Thursday for Rudnicki and will not need volunteers to assist in search efforts.

The organization thanked volunteers who search and thanked restaurants who donated food for those searching.