Thousands have joined the search for 11-year-old Boy Scout Brennan Hawkins, who went missing Friday in the mountains of Utah. His fate unknown, officials nurture a hope that the boy stayed clear of nearby Bear River where rapids and deep waters can be treacherous.
“It’s over a man’s head in some places, and the current is swift.”
Brennan hails from the town of Bountiful, near Salt Lake City, and hoped to be alive and lost, though more sinister possibilities haven’t been ruled out. Summit County Sheriff Dave Edmunds is not ruling anything out.
“It’s very important that we conduct a comprehensive investigation, and part of that is looking into possible criminal activity, he said. “We want to know who was in the woods up here.”
Toby Hawkins, Brennan’s father, clings to the hope that the boy is just lost.
“He’s probably dehydrated, sleep-deprived, definitely hungry,” said Toby. “With him being so young at 11, I don’t think he’s thinking about what he needs to do to survive because he’s never been in that environment.”
Three thousand volunteers are combing the mountains with police in search of Brennan who was last seen by a climbing-wall supervisor around 5:30 PM on Friday, according to the Associated Press. The supervisor said he look away for a minute and when he looked back, the boy was gone. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt, black shorts and white tennis shoes when he disappeared.
Joining the volunteers is the father of boy lost last year in the same area, a boy who has yet to be found. Kevin Bardsley is compelled to search by oath.
“When we came off this mountain in the winter, my friends and I decided right then, if anyone came missing, we’d be there immediately,” he said. “I never stop thinking about my son, and I never will the rest of my life.”
Brennan’s mother, Jody, hasn’t left the campgrounds, spending her time staring into the hills in wonder as the multitudes search for her lost son.
“I know where’s he’s not now, I know he’s not in those hills,” said Jody. “We got that much closer because of those people.”
