On tuesday, april 19, 2011, at approximately 2230 hours, i was contacted by south region headquarters at home, in reference to a missing kayaker on the big walnut creek.  South region advised that the kayaker reportedly left his residence earlier in the day and never returned home.  South region advised that the kayaker launched his kayak at his residence near the maidens branch creek which flows into the big walnut creek.  

 i made contact with conservation officer to assist me with the search.  At this time, the weather conditions were severe and a large storm cell was moving through the area with a tornado warning in effect with heavy rain and lighting.  The road conditions on highway 231 and highway 40 were at flood stage and in several areas, water covered the entire road.  The area had sustained substantial rainfall which led to severe flooding.  When i arrived on scene at approximately 2330 hours, officer and i were met by the reelsville volunteer fire department (vfd) personnel and an indiana state trooper.  The reelsville vfd advised that the driveway was flooded and that no access was possible.

I was met at the end of the driveway by subject’s brother.  Brother advised me that subject had reportedly left his home at approximately 1800 hours to kayak.  Brother advised that when subject left his home that he told his wife that he would be back shortly thereafter for dinner.  Brother advised that wife had told him that she was cooking dinner and that she expected subject to be back within 15-20 minutes.  Brother then went on to tell me that wife contacted him approximately 2 hours later and showed concern that subject had not returned home yet.  Brother told me that he then got on his atv and drove around the property to look for subject.  Brother then returned home and he and wife contacted the putnam county sheriff's department about the incident.  Brother advised that subject's dog, an australian shepard, had accompanied subject and that the dog never returned home either.  Subject was reportedly wearing a tan button-up shirt, brown hip waders, and dark colored work pants.  Brother advised that the kayak subject was using was a dark green colored kayak and that he could have possibly had a yellow and teal colored life jacket with him.  Brother said that the previous rainfall in the area had flooded the maiden's branch creek enough for subject to float down to the big walnut creek.  Brother advised that it was a common practice for subject to float down to the big walnut creek, and that it was not unusual for subject to be gone for an extended period of time, even with the approaching bad storms, and subsequent bad weather that followed.  Brother told me that subject was a known survivalist and that he suspected that if subject were to get himself in any trouble that he expected to find him huddled up somewhere riding out the storm.    

Brother pointed out the approximate location where subject had entered the water.  A field approximately 50 acres was flooded at the time i arrived on scene.  The field borders woods to the north, big walnut creek to the east and south, and maidens branch creek to the west.  The field was flooded to at least 1 foot of water.  The big walnut creek was flooded at approximately 12 feet at the time i arrived on scene.  The conditions of the search area were flooded and dangerous.  Heavy rain and lighting eliminated the possibility of an extensive foot search on land and eliminated the possibility of a search by boat.  At this time, i advised brother that we would be searching the area by spotlights and on foot where possible. 
 i notified the reelsville fire department personnel that the search for subject would begin at the area of the creek where subject had launched his kayak.  

Reelsville                    