After 5 days, search for missing man continues

Day five of the search for Earl F. Funk in Shenandoah National Park concluded Friday night with no new clues, but anticipation for a larger weekend search team.

Search techniques did not change Friday, as a crew of 30 employees, public safety officials and trained volunteers continued to comb through areas of Cedar Mountain, looking for the 50-year-old Staunton man in areas considered for high probability of discovery, said park representative Catharine Beverly-Bishop.

Because Funk is considered accustomed to the treacherous area, no deadline has been set to end the search.

“At this point it is really too soon to tell how long,” Beverly-Bishop said. “As far as what we know today, there’s still a reason to search and we’re still out there.”

Almost 98 percent of national park searches were concluded within 24 hours in 2007, park system spokesman Jeffrey Olson said.

“When people go missing, we usually find them,” he said. “And a handful of them usually find themselves.”

Funk, who park officials said has an undetermined medical condition that limits his mobility, was last seen by an acquaintance Monday.

Only 17 of 3,140 searches found a missing person after 48 hours. Almost 70 percent of all searches in 2007 found the missing person within one mile of the place last seen.

The search team Thursday grew to 70 people, who continued to cover treacherous terrain on private and park property. The crew Friday included three dog teams.

The park has conducted three similar large-scale searches since 2007.

Anyone with any information about Funk is asked to call 1-800-732-0911.