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MSCO crews look over search area |
MESA COUNTY, Colo - Searchers have begun Day 3 of looking for 82-year-old Mary Finnegan in the Uncompahgre National Forest.
The main search is focused on a 5 to 6 mile radius near the area where her car was found on Sunday. ATV teams have gone out about a 20 mile radius.
Crews are working to cover as much ground as possible, but also as thoroughly as possible.
The vegetation in the area is very dense and difficult to see through and in some cases see over. Some overgrowth is 3 feet to 12 feet tall, and that doesn't include trees in the area.
Monday about 50 to 60 people searched for more than ten hours.
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Staging area for search and rescue crews
in Uncompahgre National Forest
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Mesa County Sheriff's Office, Mesa County Search and Rescue, Mesa County Sheriff’s Posse, Montrose County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and local ranchers familiar with the area are now involved in the search.
Mesa County Search and Rescue has members of its ground team, ATV, tracking, and dog teams also working on the search effort.
Similar resources are expected again Tuesday. Crews will be moving into more areas and checking others more thoroughly.
"We are taking the search one day at a time. It has been very taxing not only for family members, but for search crews as well," said Sheriff Matt Lewis.
Finnegan's car was found Sunday morning about 4-5 miles off Divide Road near the Mesa County and Montrose County line.
The car was towed out of the forest Monday and is currently being processed by Mesa County Sheriff's investigators.
They are looking for more clues as to how long the car may have been left in the Uncompahgre National Forest and any information as to where Finnegan might be as well as her condition.
Nothing has been found to indicate foul play.
Finnegan was last seen Friday, July 15th at the Rose Bowl Bowling Alley in Montrose.
Finnegan is 5'1, 100 lbs, 82 years old, and was last seen wearing jeans, white shirt, blue sweater or sweater vest. Finnegan has dementia and might be confused.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is asking if anyone camping, hiking, or recreating in the area in the last week saw her or something that might be helpful to searchers to please give us a call (970) 244-3526.
Video taken Sunday