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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Search expands through Guadalupe County
Published February 9, 2006
SEGUIN — The search for a missing 28-year-old woman went beyond the borders of Seguin on Wednesday with law enforcement and search and rescue teams expanding their efforts to western Guadalupe County.
Amber Lyn Smith vanished from her home nearly two weeks ago, leaving her two young children alone.
She was reportedly last seen by her common-law husband at 10 p.m., Jan. 28. He reported her missing the next day.
Officials from Houston-based Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team joined officers at the Seguin Police Department early Wednesday and discussed expanding what police called “areas of interest.”
“What we are doing is expanding our area of search from the perimeter of the previous search area,” said Seguin Police Lt. Mike Watts. “We are expanding the area of interest based on new intelligence.”
Using sophisticated electronic equipment, police expanded their search efforts to include areas of McKnight Road south of FM 466, Zuehl Road near the Bexar-Guadalupe County Line and the length of Interstate 10 from Seguin to San Antonio.
Much of that search was conducted through the air.
“We covered a lot of ground with the helicopter,” Watts said.
Police also searched FM 464 near Blumberg Park.
The expanded search came a day after police received much-needed help from Texas EquuSearch and three days after investigators suspended five days of foot search efforts in order to narrow the area.
“The expanded areas will be standard areas that we know she traveled,” said detective Sgt. Jerry Hernandez, the lead investigator in the case.
Police used a drone aircraft that has digital photography equipment to scan areas of FM 467 Tuesday afternoon.
Police gathered more than 500 aerial photographs that are still being examined by police and search and rescue personnel.
“It’s a concurrent process,” said Gene Robinson of RF Flight Systems in Wimberley. “We are still analyzing.”
Search and rescue teams were joined by members of the Seguin Fire Department, who launched a boat to help in the search.
Teams searched the Guadalupe River south of Red Mill Dam and areas of Lake Placid.
Meanwhile, while no one has heard from Smith since her disappearance, police are still hopeful they will find her alive and well.
“You have to hope for the best and at the same time plan for the worst,” Watts said. “Best-case scenario would be that we get a phone call from Amber saying ‘I’m alright.’”
Police will resume search efforts this morning.
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