BIG LAKE, MO (KCTV) -
The Missouri Highway Patrol is pumping nearly a million gallons of water an hour in the search for a missing trooper.
A court has already declared Fred Guthrie Jr. legally dead. He and his dog were swept away in the Missouri River floodwaters on Aug. 1. The body of the dog, Reed, was found near their empty patrol car.
Authorities believe the trooper's body is near that location possibly in a 50-foot deep cavern created by the floodwaters. In hopes of finding Guthrie's body, authorities are having water pumped from the cavern.
The effort began Thursday and about 900,000 gallons of water are being pumped out hourly. The operation could take 36 hours. Once the water is drained, then a full-scale search will begin.
The effort resumed Friday morning.
Guthrie's colleagues and others have searched extensively for him since he went missing. Cadaver dogs have indicated a body is in the area.
"We're going to stay here as long as it takes to find him," said MHP spokesman Collin Stosberg. "We do believe he is located here. We've had divers in the water. We've had cadaver dogs out there that have positive indicators that he's located in this particular hole."
Stosberg said it is important to get closure for Guthrie's family and colleagues.
"He was up here helping people, doing his job. He was tragically swept away by the floodwaters," Stosberg said. "It is frustrating but we're hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel. We're hoping to find him."
To read previous coverage, click here and here and here.
Copyright 2011 KCTV. All rights reserved.
