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Show Searchers Fail to Find Body of Missing Woman ESCALANTE Efforts to locate the body of a 19-year-old Escalante woman will continue Saturday by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, after a week-long search in the area of Virgin in northern Washington County proved fruitless. Bonnie Reeder, has been missing since late on the evening of Feb. 19 when it is believed she was sweDt into the flood-swollen waters of a creek which runs into the Virgin River. Miss Reeder, along with Kevin Lee of Hurricane had attempted to cross a creekbed during a heavy rain storm last week when their vehicle was hit by a sudden wall of raging water. Both occupants were able to exit the truck through a rear sliding window in the cab but in the confusion of the storm swam to opposite sides of the creek. Lee managed to reach ground safely but Reeder only clung precariously to a tree on the opposite side while Lee sought help. Help was found after about 3 miles but when rescurers returned to the site of the mishap no sign of the victim, tree or truck were visible. Search efforts were expanded this week but according to Washington County Sheriff Gene Jones, "there has been no sign of the girl at the present time." Jones stated that approximately four miles of stream, where the girl was last seen, has been thoroughly searched and chances are now that the body has been carried into the Virgin River. Jones also related that the two-ton pickup, in which Miss Reeder was a passenger prior to the accident, had been carried some 200 yards downstream, indicating to searchers the tremendous force of the flash flood waters at the time. Jones indicated that if the body were not located during the Saturday search that efforts would be suspended until later this spring. Miss Reeder is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Reeder, Escalante and had been residing in St. George. She is a graduate of Escalante High School. |
