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Ranger Freezes in Bitter Cold, New Hampshire 1-15-2004

Woman Fakes Being Lost in Vermont

Vermont Civil Air Patrol

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The woman who called police saying she was lost on Lake Champlain last week made up her story.

The woman, who lives in Huntington, called 911 Thursday, claiming she was lost on the lake and had spent several hours in subzero temperatures.

Helicopters found her off Colchester Point in remarkably good condition, with no frostbite.  

Previous Stories:

February 28, 2003: Woman Found Alive After Night On Lake Champlain

LITTLETON, N.H. — A St. Johnsbury, Vt., woman found dead in a driveway on Dec. 27 died of hypothermia and the medical examiner has ruled her death an accident.

Ferris Plane Crash

Massachusetts State Police/New York State Police

March 3, 2003

  Massachusetts State Police coordinated the search for a downed aircraft and ultimate live rescue of three children in Monterey, Massachusetts. Helicopters from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts were utilized to locate the emergency locater beacon. 

At 1255 hours a New York State Police Helicopter located the crash site and detected a small child partially immersed in a stream next to the wingless wreckage. The helicopters were coordinated through the Massachusetts State Police IMAT and Airwing.

Local and national news agencies have disseminated much of the details.

Associated Press Article as Printed in the Rutland Herald

The Sheffield Police, provided the department's headquarters for the Massachusetts State Police  Command Post.

Monterey Fire Department should be mentioned for providing logistical assistance by allowing searchers, rescuer's and the media to use their firehouse.

'I've got a kid': Rescuer describes miracle in tragedy
Boston Globe
by Laurel J. Sweet
Wednesday, March 5, 2003

  As he hovered 80 feet above the eerie stillness of an airplane crash and what he expected would be a lifeless scene, it was the movements of a toddler sitting in a creek that helicopter pilot Sgt. Thomas J. Corrigan said he couldn't believe. ``He looked the size of a doll,'' said Corrigan, who has been flying search-and-rescue missions for New York State Police for 14 years. ``I told the guy next to me, `I've got a kid here, I'm sure.' And our spirits were lifted.'' A barely clad Ryan Ferris, 2, apparently thrown on impact from his parents' single-engine Piper Cherokee Six 300, was waist-deep in an icy mountain creek, convulsing in a manner that made him appear to be beckoning for the chopper's help.

In temperatures that plummeted well below freezing Sunday night and Monday, only four of the seven family members would be plucked alive from the side of a Berkshire mountain. Ronald Ferris, 39, the pilot and father, later died of his injuries. As he waited for medics to arrive, Corrigan remained suspended above the child for 18 minutes before he saw Ronald Ferris reach his arm through the cockpit door.

``I saw his arm moving back and forth,'' Corrigan said. ``He was very weak and I could see he was trapped. I didn't move.''

Ryan Ferris and his brothers Jordan, 5 and Tyler, 10, all of Swanzey, N.H., remained hospitalized yesterday in Albany, N.Y., in critical condition.

Their body temperatures - all below 90 degrees when they were discovered in the wreckage atop Mount Wilcox in Beartown State Forest in Monterey - have been restored to normal, said Dr. Tom Cohen, chief of pediatric surgery at Albany Medical Center.

``They have each improved a little,'' said Cohen, former chief of pediatric surgery at University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. ``It's too soon to say that everyone is out of the woods.'' Two of the three brothers were conscious yesterday. All had been brought in severely hypothermic. In addition, Tyler Ferris suffered multiple leg fractures. Peter Dower, a friend of the Ferris family from Swanzey, N.H., said he spoke with the parents of Tayne Ferris yesterday.

``The boys are doing pretty well,'' he said. ``I can't talk about specific conditions, but they're so much better than yesterday. They're improving considerably. (Tyler) seems to be quite coherent and remarkably, is concerned about us. He's quite a kid.''

When rescuers reached the crash site, the boys' mother, Tayne, 36, and two other brothers, Kyle, 8 and Shawn, 11, were already dead, their bodies heaped in a pile by the violent forward impact of the crash.

In order to free Ronald Ferris, rescuers had to cut a hole in the bottom of the plane. Inside the cockpit, still in his seat, was the father, pinned down by the body of one of his dead sons. But Luke Schiada, an aerosafety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said yesterday there was no sign of ice on the wreckage or any other obvious cause for the plane's fatal plunge. Ferris, who took ownership of the 35-year-old fixed-wing plane in 1997, ``has a very clean record,'' said Jim Peters, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration's Northeast Region.

Doug Hanchett contributed to this report.

NEW ENGLAND IN BRIEF
Walpole

Man, 89, dies after wandering off
(By Globe Staff and Wires)

An 89-year-old man died after he wandered outside a Walpole assisted living complex in extremely cold weather, Walpole police said yesterday. David Mooney was found lying in the snowbanks outside the New Pond Village center around 6 a.m. Sunday, said Walpole Police Lieutenant Scott Bushway. Mooney was dead, but an exact cause of death was pending the results of an autopsy by the state Medical Examiner's office. Bushway said Mooney's death was accidental. ''There is no foul play,'' he said. A call to facility officials was not returned yesterday afternoon.

Missing Farmer Located

January 13, 2003

Bridgewater, Massachusetts 

A local beef farmer who was last seen around January 5th was found deceased in a building on the farm by searchers shortly after 10:00 A.M., in a sawdust pile. A cadaver search dog was part of the team which located the farmer.

Several resources were utilized throughout the previous week including diver, canine, ground and air units from a variety of agencies.

Responding to assist Bridgewater, PD in addition to Bridgewater Fire Department were several of the special teams from the Massachusetts State Police (IMAT, K-9, Dive, SERT and Airwing), NEWSAR affiliates (Eastern Mass SAR Team, Duke's County SAR, Search Dogs Northeast), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Regional SAR Team and the Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer's (EPO).

Skier rescued after cold night on Long Trail

January 11, 2003

(from the State section)

The Associated Press

 BOLTON — A 32-year-old medical student may have to reimburse Bolton Valley Resort and Vermont State Police for the cost of his rescue after skiing out of bounds led to a night on the Long Trail.

Isaac Rudloe was rescued Friday morning on Bolton Mountain after getting caught in deep snow while skiing Thursday.

Rudloe, a student at the University of Vermont College of Medicine who lives in Burlington, was taken off the mountain about 6:30 a.m. Friday, according to State Police Sgt. Dee Glynn. She said Rudloe did not require hospital treatment.

“I’m very relieved,” his mother, Diana Rudloe, said from Bowdoinham, Maine.

Robert Fries, owner and president of Bolton Valley Resort, said Rudloe left by himself about 3 p.m. Thursday from the resort’s cross-country center.

He said Rudloe apparently skis the mountain’s back-country trails frequently.

Out-of-bounds skiing is allowed at Bolton Valley, he said, but signs warn that it is at the skier’s risk.

Rudloe was tired and caught in deep snow on the Long Trail about 6:30 p.m., Fries said, when he called a friend on his cell phone. She called police, and the first search team departed around 8 p.m.

The Bolton Valley Ski Patrol, Vermont State Police and rescue crews from Colchester, Waterbury, Stowe, Richmond and the Fish and Wildlife Department conducted the search.

He said Rudloe continued to call rescuers on his cell phone every half-hour until they reached him at 1:15 a.m. Friday. Crews battled deep snow that made it hard to find the trail, according to Fries, before they returned to the ski resort about five hours later.

The temperature at midnight Thursday was 8 degrees in Burlington.

Rescue of 41 Year Old Man

Massachusetts State Police 

6-27/28-2002

 West Warren,

A search for a 41 year old man with medical problems was concluded when a team of searchers located the subject deceased. Multiple agency's assisted including Warren Fire Department, Central Mass Search and Rescue, Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue, Eastern Mass Search and Rescue, Environmental Police, Department of Environmental Management Rangers, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency,  S.E.R.T., MSP K-9, MSP Airwing, MSP I.M.A.T. along with MSP Search and Rescue. 

Evacuation of an elderly hiker

Multiple Search Teams in Vermont

6-16-2002

    Vermont State Police photos of the evacuation of an elderly hiker the was lost/found in on the Long Trail in Woodford on Sunday morning.  

Assisted by Southern Vermont Wilderness Search and Rescue, Vermont State Police K-9, U.S. Forest Service, Vt. Fish and Wildlife.

Suspect Found Deceased

Massachusetts State Police

6-13-2002

 Massachusetts State Police report the location of a person suspected of murder, deceased in a recreational area in Blandford, Massachusetts. Members of Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue, Central Mass Search and Rescue Team, Eastern Mass Search and Rescue Team, D.EM. and EPO's in additional to Civilian K-9 Handlers Gail McCarthy and Jim Stefely and MEMA supplemented the State Police I.M.A.T., S.E.R.T. and K-9 Teams.

State Police Airwing and Underwater Recovery Team were activated in support of recovery operations. 

The Chester Police and Fire Department as well as EMT's were utilized for two days of operations, with key assistance by the Fire Chief and his men.  

 Two Sixteen Year Old Skiers Located

Vermont State Police

2-19-2002

Killington Ski Area reported to the Vermont State Police, 2 sixteen year-old skiers were missing. Both subjects were from New York City. 

Both subjects were located in an area consistent with previous searches. A snowshoer, from Massachusetts with roots to the area, located the tracks of the skiers, and placed a call from his cellular phone to alert searchers. The snowshoer had seen State Police cruisers and deducted that the tracks were not normal in the area.

All ended well, with the local meeting reporting that, Killington will be sending a bill. The Rutland Herald reported a Killington official as stating it is "Standard Operating Procedure".

Despondent Male Found 

Massachusetts State Police K-9 team

1-30-2002

Massachusetts State Police K-9 team locates a male despondent in Grafton, Massachusetts, prior to any action that may have harmed the subject.

 Missing Aircraft

1-26-2002 to 1-27-2002

Vermont State Police

 Vermont State Police established a Command Post at the Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue Center, Rutland State Airport to coordinate the search for a missing aircraft. Vermont National Guard, Massachusetts and New York State Police assisted with helicopters from their respective states in addition to fixed wing aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol.

A Massachusetts State Police, Tactical Flight Officer, located a site that was suspected to have been a crash site. A New York State Police helicopter hovered over the site to guide ground teams to the area.

The Civil Air Patrol was instrumental in the success of the mission through their various roles.

Missing Couple Found

Multiple Search Teams - Massachusetts

1-7-2002

 Ashfield, Massachusetts

A couple walking a property line was reported missing during a significant snow storm. The vehicle was located after dark on the side of a roadway. State Police evaluation indicated a Stage III response including members of Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue, DEM, EPO's, Ashfield Fire Department, Ashfield Rescue, Ashfield Police and various teams of the State Police Force Package.

The couple was located shortly after first light making their way down the backside of the mountain where they had detected signs of civilization. Tactical EMT/Trooper Blake Gilmore spotted the couple and provided warm transportation to a waiting medical team for evaluation.

1-25-2002 Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

A State Police Bloodhound Team located a deceased male in a wooded area. Investigation continues, no foul play is suspected.

Two Overdue Children Located

Multiple Search Teams - Vermont

7-31-2001

  Vermont State Police, Middlebury received a call reporting two overdue children who went back country fishing. At around 1900 the 13 year old brother and 15 year old sister were given directions on how to hike to a small stream located in the Green Mt.. Nat. Forest in Ripton, Vt. They left with only fishing gear with instructions to be home by 2030 or dark. They did not return. After a neighbor familiar with the area found their tracks by the brook, but did not find the kids, the mother called for help at 2213 hours. Trooper Hodsden responded (working alone out of his office) and called for assistance. He set up a command post at the victims home, which uses battery power due to the remote location. VSP K-9 Cooper responded to assist with Trooper Penders attending arriving on scene at around 0030 hours. They were fielded, accessed the area of the brook on foot and began to search. They found tracks and other evidence of the children's presence and it appeared that they had been moving down stream. Two VSP SAR Troopers, Kerin and Lane responded and were fielded to conduct sound sweeps along the many snowmobile and logging trails. U.S. Forest Service Officer Kinville and K-9 were called out and they were fielded to an area that contained beaver dams from another access road east of the Command Post. 

After a few hours of searching without locating the pair, Nancy Lyon from New England K-9 SAR was contacted. She was able to reach 7 dog teams to respond to the scene by early morning. If the children were not found along this brook the area that remained to be searched was massive. Arrangements were made to respond replacement searchers for the next operational period if the children were not found be 0530.

Trooper Cooper and Penders had to come out as their lights sources were fading. The POS for the remainder of the brook was very high due to the plans made by the kids and the amount of evidence found by Troopers Cooper and Penders. 

Office Kim Kinville of the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Division and her K-9 had just returned from their first assignment at this search and they were reassigned with the neighbor to complete the search of the brook from the where Trooper Cooper and Penders left off to the main road. K-9 Trooper Cooper and Penders were given another light source and sent in to search up the brook from the main road. The two search teams converged and the two missing teens were found uncomfortably cold but unharmed and unprepared. They were .3 miles from their home and a few hundred yards from the road. This find occurred around 0440 when Officer Kinville's team was the first searchers to reach the kids. This was the first find for Officer Kinville and her K-9 partner. Nancy was able to contact and cancel all members of NEK9SAR who were in route.

Overdue ATV Riders

Vermont State Police

7-28-2001

Vermont State Police began a search for a 14 year old boy that was overdue from an ATV ride. Searchers located the ATV and searched through the night. In the morning additional resources were activated and the boy was located safe.

 Massive Search For Lost 46 Yr. Old Woman

Multiple Search Teams in Vermont

7-23-25-2001

 A 46 year old woman has been the subject of a massive search operation conducted by the Attleboro Police Department. 

The subject left her home on Handy Street at about 9:30 P.M. for what the family presumed to be a short walk and has not been seen since.

Assisting in the search are State Police resources in addition to Central Mass Search and Rescue, MEMA, Environmental Police, Department of Environmental Management, Attleboro Fire/Rescue and all Certified Civilian K-9 Teams in the Commonwealth.

Heat and thick vegetation took it's toll in the way of injuries and dehydration. High humidity and temperatures in the mid 90's kept Tactical EMT's busy with evaluating and treating resources.

On Thursday, July 26 the missing woman was located near her home alive.

Charleton, Massachusetts

Massachusetts State Police IMAT/ K-9/SERT

7-24-2001

 Massachusetts State Police K-9 Units are being credited with a life saving find of an 84 year old woman. The woman, an Alzheimer's Disease victim, was reported missing by her family at around 7 A.M.. 

At approximately 1130 local police requested services of State Police K-9's from Tactical Operations in addition to a helicopter.

The woman was located conscious but disoriented, wedged between several large rocks and blown down trees as a result of a fall.

Missing Operator of Car

Multiple Search Teams in Massachusetts

7-18-2001

Williamstown, Massachusetts, various resources were activated in an effort to find the operator of a car that had been abandoned in the early morning hours the previous day. There were indications that the person in the driver seat may have been injured. The subject was located deceased. 

Michigan Hikers Lost On Long Trail

Multiple Search Teams in Massachusetts, Vermont

7-19-2001

Williamstown, MA. State Police along with Rangers from D.E.M., Bennington, VT Police, U.S. Forest Service Police and Vermont State Police worked to locate two Michigan residents that had been separated from their hiking party on the Appalachian Trail the previous day.

Vermont State Police Trooper Michael Marvin, located the subjects and transported them to the State line where Massachusetts State Police reunited them with the remainder of their party.

90 Yr. Old Lost While Fishing

Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police

7-19-2001

June 19, 2001 Monroe, Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police responded to a report of a 90 year old fisherman that had been separated from his fishing partner. The subject was located within a few hours with no apparent injuries.

Search for 25 Year Old

Massachusetts State Police I.M.A.T. Team/Environmental Police Officers

April 23, 2001

April 23, 2001, New Bedford, Massachusetts, the Massachusetts State Police I.M.A.T. Team was deployed to a wilderness area of NEW Bedford where a search for a 25 year old male had been underway for 2 days. Local Police and Sheriff Deputies had deployed resources with no luck in locating the subject. State Police Trackers were able to locate the subject's track which was lost at a trail. Environmental Police Officer's located the track further up the trail, and shortly after the subject came out to a road and approached a resident who summoned help. The subject was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Members of the Department of Environmental Management along with Environmental Police Officers joined State Police as part of the unified approach created under the SAR Plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

27 Yr. Old leaves Place of Work - Missing

Vermont State Police K9

April 12, 2001

On April 12, 2001, a 27 year old Poultney, Vt. man left his place of
work in Poultney, Vt. without notifying his supervisor.  When he failed to return home that evening, family members reported him missing to the Vermont State Police.  On April 13 his vehicle was discovered stuck on a muddy logging road in a rural area of Poultney, Vt.  His vehicle was unlocked, the keys were in the ignition and his hunting rifle was missing. Cpl. Ed Hunter, VSP K9 handler, searched the wooded area near the truck.  Unable to locate the subject, Cpl. Hunter was assisted by Vermont Fish and Wildlife Warden, Don Isabelle.  Within 30 min., Warden Isabelle and his dog Abbey found the subject .2 miles from his truck. The subject had died the day before from a self inflicted gun shot wound to his head.  He was found in the woods on a hill that had a view of a large lake below.

47 Yr. Old Snowshoer Focus of Search

Multiple Search Teams in Massachusetts

April 1, 2003

Sunday April 1, 2001 Mount Greylock, a 47 year old man on snowshoes was the object of a SAR Mission. Massachusetts State Police along with Environmental Police Officers, Officers from the Department of Environmental Management, Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue and the Village Ambulance Service were deployed in the operation. 

Williamstown Fire Department provided Command Post accommodations, while the Massachusetts State Police Communication Technicians provided the communication links.

Searchers located the victim at around 6 A.M. in the beginning stages of hypothermia, hugging a tree at the top of a cliff. The victim was assisted to solid ground and able to exit the area with guidance from the rescuers to an awaiting ambulance for evaluation.  

Search For Elderly Gentleman

Multiple Search Teams in Massachusetts

April 2, 2003

Monday, April 2, 2001, Rochester Massachusetts, a search effort began for an elderly gentleman last seen at his home at around 10 A.M. 

Local Police and Fire conducted a search of areas around the residence into the night. On Tuesday, April 3, 2001, State Police I.M.A.T. was activated to assist Chief Przybylek and his Department with an expanded search and investigation. 

The local fire department along with the American Red Cross, Central Mass Search and Rescue, Duke's County SAR Rochester EMS, MEMA, and divers from the Plymouth area and the State Police were utilized on Wednesday and Thursday for a water search with no results. The gentleman's boat was found a short distance from where he was last seen.

Search For Elderly Gentleman

Massachusetts State Police

Wednesday April 4, 2001

NEWSAR

Wednesday April 4, 2001, Sutton, MA an elderly gentleman was reported missing from his home. Massachusetts State Police I.M.A.T. responded to assist with the various assets available, including air support, K-9, S.E.R.T. Troopers and Specialized Search Management personnel.

These assets joined the local effort and teams such as, Central Mass Search and Rescue, D.E.M., EPO's, Berkshire Mountain SAR, Fire and Rescue and Rensselaer County (NY) Search and Rescue.

On Thursday shortly after noon, the gentleman was located and transported to an ambulance to be evaluated for his ordeal at a nearby medical facility.