Search and Rescue Teams Scour Piercy Area for Missing Woman

Searchers gathered this morning at the Piercy Community Center.

Searchers gathered this morning at the Piercy Community Center. [Photos by Talia Rose]

At 7 a.m. this morning, search and rescue crews began gathering at the Piercy Community Center. They will be pouring through the area looking for Margit Prichard, a 76-year-old local resident who may be suffering from dementia.

Margit Prichard

Margit Prichard

Yesterday, searchers including a helicopter quickly went through the most likely traveled routes. According to Woody Baker Cohn with Marin Search and Rescue, because she has wandered before as far as Benbow which is nearly 10 miles away, it greatly increases the search area as most people are found within 3 miles and they searched that yesterday and also covered 14 miles in the most likely routes.

Cohn said that searchers are very concerned as she may have gone two nights now without food or shelter and possibly she is injured. She may be very confused.

Two dogs and their handlers are on the hunt with the searchers for the missing woman. The dogs started at her house and are moving out from there. One will search specifically for her and one for any human in the area. 

A helicopter is expected to assist when the clouds clear away.

An ATV was unloaded this morning to assist in the search.

An ATV was unloaded this morning to assist in the search.

Teams from Marin, Napa, Lake County, San Mateo, Sonoma, Bay Area mountain rescue, Cal Fire, and Humboldt are either already on the ground or expected by this afternoon. As many as fifty people could be searching today. Mendocino’s Search and Rescue crews who have done 30 searches since January requested help from teams in northern California and received many offers of assistance. Cal OES helped coordinate the response from the various groups.

After getting their orders on where to look, searchers begin spreading out looking for the missing woman.

After getting their orders on where to look, searchers begin spreading out looking for the missing woman.

Margit was last seen about 4:30 p.m. on Friday wearing a purple shirt and capri pants. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, she is very fit and has been known to walk the 10 miles from Piercy to Benbow.

If you have any information on Margit, please contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Communication Office at (707) 463-4086 right away. Piercy residents are especially being asked to search their memories. If anyone knows any areas or routes she walks, the searchers need to know. Residents are also being asked to search any outbuildings on their land as she has now spent two nights out and may be very confused.

Earlier Chapter: Margit Prichard Missing in the Piercy Area; Mendocino Sheriff Asks for Public’s Help

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14 Comments
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Mogtx
Guest
5 years ago

I pray for her safe return

Gypsy Rose
Guest
Gypsy Rose
5 years ago

Me to Mogtx. Let her be safe.

me
Guest
me
5 years ago

Humboldt needs a dedicated tracking dog. It would get plenty of use. While the police K9 are good a bloodhound used just for tracking is better in a situation like this.

Catdance
Guest
Catdance
5 years ago

Praying for her safe return

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
5 years ago

I’m hoping both she & the woman from Blue Lake who disappeared in Eureka, are both found safe & sound!!!

Liz
Guest
Liz
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller
John
Guest
John
5 years ago

One thing that perhaps not everyone knows is that those Search & Rescue people are volunteers. They gear-up and go out to do what they do for free.

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago

Thank you, volunteers.

I keep checking back hoping she’s been found.

Sadly not.

Skippy
Guest
Skippy
5 years ago

I know her. She used to volunteer at Garberville Library. Last time I saw her she was having lunch with a friend in town. I didn’t realize she was that disoriented. I know she was scared of getting Alzheimer’s because it ran in her family and she had some forgetfulness but she was still able to drive. I pray she is found safe. She should have had some device on her to track her..or a phone. I’m praying for her safety!

A free tip
Guest
A free tip
5 years ago
Reply to  Skippy

She left her house with no phone or purse.. As much as I don’t want to admit it, it is likely now that she is sadly dead

Kyle Nelson
Guest
Kyle Nelson
5 years ago

Thats me with the black northface backpack!

Caroline Nelson
Guest
Caroline Nelson
5 years ago

My son is with Marin Search and Rescue assisting in the effort. Hoping for her safe return!!!

nyra valle
Guest
nyra valle
5 years ago

Seems like it would be best to put more dogs on the search.