Search continues for missing Lincoln youth

[May 16, 2008]  Not even the cold, chilling rains that fell on the area Thursday night could match the chilling concerns friends, family and residents of Logan County feel over the disappearance of 18-year-old Billy Ray Eskew. Eskew, on a camping trip near the Lincoln Sportsmen's Club with friends, has not been seen since early morning on Tuesday. Hundreds of searchers scanned the ground area south of Lincoln Wednesday and Thursday but could find no clues to the missing youth's whereabouts.

The nearby Salt Creek, with a swift current from the steadily rising waters, has been and remains the focus of the search for the next several days, according to Dan Fulscher, Logan County Emergency Management Agency director.

Fulscher explained what has transpired since Eskew was reported missing Tuesday evening. "We received a call from the family, asking us to help in the search for Bill Ray, at 6:30 p.m. I immediately contacted the sheriff, and together with the Lincoln Rural Fire Department we conducted what we call a hasty search."

Fulscher went on to explain how all the emergency management agencies work together when someone in another county requests help. "Sangamon County sent nine of their personnel, including a canine search team, to help right away. The next day we had assistance from the surrounding counties of DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Sangamon to help with a concentrated ground, air and ATV search of the entire area from the Sportsmen's Club all the way to the waste treatment facility and Lincoln Lakes as well as Madigan State Park."

With the ground area being considered thoroughly searched with no clues to Eskew's whereabouts, efforts are now being directed to Salt Creek. Fulscher explained that the creek currently has areas of swales as deep as 14 to 18 feet, and with the continuing rain, it was impossible to continue the search on Thursday evening.

The county intends to continue the search Friday morning with the enlistment of seven boats from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The local Logan County Dive Team also has been heavily involved in the search of the creek and will continue their efforts Friday morning as well.

Fulscher wanted to make it clear that he and his agency are willing to do whatever is requested from the sheriff's department. "If the sheriff tells me he thinks we need to start over and search everything again, we will."

As reported in yesterday afternoon's LDN, Eskew is 6-feet-1-inch tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has short blondish-brown hair, a goatee and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing jeans, a red hooded coat with white sleeves, a tan Carhartt jacket and black boots. Anyone having any information on the missing youth should contact Logan County Sheriff's Department personnel at 217-732-4159.

[By MIKE FAK]

Readers can find more of Mike Fak's writing at www.searchwarp.com and www.problogs.com.

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