About 100 Riders Comb Township Ditches For 3-Year-Old Girl
Jun 3 2006 12:00AM
http://www.ap.org
Associated Press
Minot, N.D. - About 100 horseback riders spread out through roads and ditches in four townships north and east of here Saturday, looking for signs of 3-year-old Reachelle Smith, now missing more than two weeks.
"It's pretty hot out here, but the volunteers are doing very well. We've got one of our squad vehicles pulling a water trailer, moving around and watering the horses," Ward County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Dave Bosh said at mid-afternoon.
The search had found "nothing significant" so far, he said.
The riders started before 9 a.m., seeking to cover about 250 miles before early evening.
"We've got between 90 and 100 riders out," Bosh said. "Geographically, we're looking north and east of Minot and we're covering four townships. We're doing all the roads and ditches in those townships."
Twenty-four horses were assigned to each township, and the groups were then broken down into teams of four, he said.
"Two go on either side of the road - go up to the end and come back down another road," he said.The Red Cross providing food and drinks to the riders, he said.
Authorities said the search was in an area where Leigh Cowen was reported to have driven along back roads.
Reachelle, who has been missing since the night of May 16, was believed to be with Cowen, 22, but when his body was found in a van in the Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge last week, there was no sign of her. Authorities said he apparently killed himself.
"We've had local landowners file reports that his van was seen in this area," Bosh said of Saturday's search area. Horseback riders would have the chance for a broader look, he said.
"If you put two or three horses side-by-side, the riders are up so much higher than a walker would be and they have a broader span of version," the deputy said. "The horses will maintain the slow, steady pace we need all day long."
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