Deer cam footage helps locate missing man

Dana Riney accompanied law enforcement and medical personnel to his hunting land on CR410 Thursday, Oct. 29, where officials located a man who had been missing for three days. The man was in need of medical assistance, but basically safe. Photo by Dana Riney.

A 50-year-old Hannibal man who walked away from the Beloved Health & Rehabilitation Center, 328 Munger Lane, on Monday, Oct. 26, was found about four miles away, in need of medical attention, but basically safe on Thursday, Oct. 29. That is thanks in part to the alertness of a Hannibal man and his father, James P. and Dana Riney.

Hannibal Police Department issued a Facebook alert on Oct. 26, asking for the public’s help in finding Harley. He was known to walk to McDonald’s. The residential facility staff became alarmed when Harley failed to return in a timely manner.

Police utilized a drone in the search;  they walked through wooded areas in the vicinity; they tracked Harley’s phone until the battery went dead; they followed up on reported citizen sightings and they studied video surveillance footage from neighboring businesses.

All to no avail.

Game cam

In the meantime, in anticipation of deer season, James Riney installed a game cam system on his father’s hunting property, located on River Road, CR410 north of Hannibal.

While monitoring the digital images, James noticed what appeared to be a man matching the description posted on Facebook.

After sharing the images with Hannibal police on Thursday morning, responders coordinated a rescue mission to the property, including the Hannibal Police Department, EMS, Hannibal Fire Department First Responders and a helicopter.

The Rineys accompanied the entourage.

Once on the property, “A large group met there along the creek,” Dana said. “Two officers went down along the creek to the left, and the sergeant and I went to the right and up the hill toward the location of the game cam. Before we reached the top, they radioed that they found him.”

The sergeant told Dana he could head back down the hill, which led him to fear the worst. Instead, the former military MP forged ahead with the sergeant.

“Harley had fallen in a narrow drainage ditch on the hillside and couldn’t get up,” Dana said. “He was moved down to the clearing and loaded on the helicopter for medical attention.”

That evening, “about 3:30 a.m., a thunderstorm moved through the area,” Dana said,  “drenching the community in about 50 degree outside temperatures.

“I thought how lucky we were to have found him.

“I was impressed by the professionalism of all those who participated and thank them for their service to our community,” Dana said.

“That’s what makes Hannibal a great place to live,” said Ronnie Drage, Dana’s wife. “I want to credit the people who serve the community.”