Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office is planning on one final large-scale search for Breanna Mitchell, 28 of Worland.
Mitchell went missing when her Ford Expedition got stuck off of the Nowater Road in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 22.
Sheriff Austin Brookwell announced Tuesday that prior to the large scale search, “a private company, Find-911 out of Cody will assist Washakie County with searching out [in the Nowater badlands] before the final search. This company has K-9s, a drone and really advanced software to process the images the drone takes to hopefully get answers.”
He is asking for residents to not be in the area Wednesday, Aug. 9 or Thursday, Aug. 10 during the Find-911 search.
This Friday, will be a large-scale search out in the area for Mitchell, weather permitting. SAR units will be having a quick briefing at 5 p.m. and then will head out to the area. Brookwell has contacted Park County, Johnson County and Hot Springs County sheriffs, and they all have informed me they will send SAR units to assist with the Friday search.
“I am not asking for the public’s help with this final search,” Brookwell said.
He added, “However, I understand individuals would like to help; if you do come to search, please do not get in the way of the SAR units, bring plenty of water, and do not get lost. I will only be coordinating the SAR units. I will not be coordinating with any civilian searchers. The weather is supposed to be decent as of now, but that could change, obviously.
“At this point, if Breanna is still out in this area, chances are very high it will be a recovery and not a rescue. I am asking anyone who comes out to search if you happen to come across what looks like human remains or items that could be evidence, do not touch anything. Call it in (307-347-2242) and give the GPS coordinates to dispatch, or find a SAR unit that may be close to you and let them know. I do not have a specific area I want civilians to search, so if you do come, that will be up to you.”
BACKGROUND
Mitchell, described as 5-foot 5-inches with brown hair, approximately 130 pounds and believed to be barefoot, contacted her boyfriend Christian Romo about 2 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, to let him know she had become stuck. She also contacted others. Romo searched for Mitchell on Saturday and when he could not find her he notified law enforcement on the evening of July 22. Washakie County Search and Rescue began searching that night and searched each day through last Tuesday, Aug. 1.
A bloodhound and a cadaver dog had indicated Mitchell’s scent near a pond in the Nowater badlands. The pond was nearly in the center of the area where the Federal Bureau of Investigation had pinged Mitchell’s cell phone.
The pond was drained and searched but Mitchell was not located.
In an earlier interview Brookwell said half of his patrol department has been working on any possible leads from cell phone data or any tips the sheriff’s office has received.
“We will continue to work on the law enforcement investigation until nothing is left to investigate,” he said.