Desperate Serviceman runs AWOL as area search teams deploy with urgency

( '? ..... a scared kid, a tough time of year: yet all this newspaper is concerned about is the cost of the search and rescue effort..... yea, priorities. ( '?


Nearly a thousand volunteers searched the Black Hills for him, only to learn Ellsworth Airman Steven Rutherford went AWOL. As Rutherford waits to make an appearance in military court, officials are now adding up how much they spent looking for the airman. But the search and rescue authorities are looking at the search as a learning tool.

It's considered the biggest search for a missing person in the Black Hills in at least ten years. For those involved, it was a learning opportunity.

Val Frie, Search & Rescue, said, "It was a great experience. Not only in the search itself but working with all the other agencies that were involved with the search."

But looking for 21-year old Airman Steven Rutherford ended up costing tax payers a lot.

Sheriff officials say they spent more then eight thousand dollars and they're still counting. The cost is more difficult for the volunteer search and rescue crews to add up.

Frie said, "The length of time, being an all volunteer organization. Sometimes it's a little hard to get man power that lasts for more than two days."

More then 900 volunteers helped, putting in over 9,000 hours. Even though the search didn't turn up anything, rescuers say it wasn't a total waste.

Frie said, "They're anxious to hear what we did right, especially with the dogs teams hitting in one area we're curious to hear if he was down there so we can learn from this. In the next search that we have, we can apply what we've learned on this one."

Those who spent seven days looking for Rutherford are glad to know the airman is alive.

Frie said, "And this was a little bit different cause we didn't find him. And so to have him call in and be found was actually great for us because it gave us some closure."

As for who will actually pay for the search, sheriff officials are looking into having Airman Rutherford pay for it. They're also working with the state's attorney on what charges could be brought against the airman. Rutherford is scheduled to appear in military court Wednesday.


Andy Harvey
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