Found Deceased SD - Amy Dougherty, adult, driving in blizzard from Andover to Bristol, 23 Dec 2020

[mlhenn]

South Dakota authorities continue search for missing woman in Day County | KELOLAND.com

The Day County Sheriff’s Department is searching for Amy Dougherty, who went missing Wednesday morning (Dec 23) after she left for work but never arrived.

A deputy with the Day County Sheriff’s office says they have covered every road between Dougherty’s home and place of work but have found no traces of her or her vehicle.

Authorities asks if anyone sees the vehicle or knows where Dougherty might be to call the Day County Sheriff’s office at (605) 345-3222.

 

[mlhenn]

Authorities continue search for missing woman in Day County | KELOLAND.com

•Dougherty left her house near Bristol on Wednesday morning.
•She was on her way to work.
•She was driving a 2002 black Chevy Trailblazer.
•The Day County Sheriff’s Department is still searching for Amy Dougherty
•The search will continue this weekend

**Below is a photo of a vehicle much like the one Amy was last seen in. According to her sister it is the same make, model, & color.

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 27, 2020
SD Civil Air Patrol joins search for missing Day County woman | KELOLAND.com
[...]

The Civil Air Patrol tweeted their aircraft flew route and grid searches and concentrated on areas that previous searchers from the roads may not have been able to see.

[...]

Authorities say they have checked every road they believe she might have taken, but still haven’t located her.

The Civil Air Patrol says they’re prepared to do additional search flights if asked by authorities.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

SD Wing Civil Air Patrol
South Dakota Civil Air Patrol (CAP) joined the search today for a woman missing in Day County. Amy Dougherty was last seen when she left for work Wednesday afternoon, driving in blizzard conditions from Andover to Bristol. She was driving a black Chevy Trailblazer. 1/

6:56 PM · Dec 26, 2020

SD Wing Civil Air Patrol
CAP involvement was requested by the Day County Sheriff’s Department via the South Dakota Department of Emergency Management. “Our Civil Air Patrol aircraft flew route and grid searches and concentrated on areas that previous searchers.... 2/
6:56 PM · Dec 26, 2020

SD Wing Civil Air Patrol
....from the roads may not have been able to see,” said Lt. Col. Todd Epp, CAP, incident commander for CAP’s part of the search. “Our aircrews are trained to do visual searching, so South Dakota CAP is well-suited to this kind of search.” 3/
6:56 PM · Dec 26, 2020

SD Wing Civil Air Patrol
Epp noted that South Dakota CAP, known as South Dakota Wing, coordinated specific areas searched today with the Day County Sheriff’s Department, which has overall authority over the missing person search. 4/
6:56 PM · Dec 26, 2020

SD Wing Civil Air Patrol
In addition to the aircrew, other South Dakota CAP members assist with mission planning and logistical support. South Dakota Wing is prepared to do additional search sorties if requested by the sheriff’s department, weather permitting. 5/5
6:56 PM · Dec 26, 2020

 

[mlhenn]

Authorities in Day County seek missing woman

Paywall with this article

South Dakota Civil Air Patrol Assists In Day County Missing Person Search

Amy Dougherty was last seen when she left for work Wednesday afternoon, driving in blizzard conditions from Andover to Bristol.

 

[mlhenn]

Amy Dougherty: Authorities continue to search for missing woman

The search for Amy Dougherty continues in Day County after she left for work during poor weather conditions on Wednesday but never made it.

The South Dakota Civil Air Patrol has been flying planes over the area in hopes of finding traces of her or her vehicle. Those efforts first started on Saturday and continued Monday.

Day County has also been doing an electronic monitoring, including trying to track social media. Those efforts have been futile so far.

 

[mlhenn]

Search continues for missing Day County woman


Air searches have been concentrating on areas that could be obstructed due to snow.

In a phone interview with Dakota News Now, Col. John N. Seten of the Civil Air Patrol said the need for aerial searches was recognized by the Sheriff’s office, helping cover more area due in part to how bad the weather was Wednesday.

 

[realanastasia]

Driving 10-12 miles to work in a 18-year old car in “blizzard conditions” seems exceedingly dangerous on its face—I hope this woman will be located safely!

 

[Somebody's Waiting]

The obvious of course, many times the simple answer is the right answer.

What are the possibilities that could have happened to Amy?
1. She left on her own, took off.
2. She had an accident on her way to work.
3. Someone did something to her.

1. It appears that it would not be in Amy's nature to just leave.

2. We know the weather was not good. Something I am not clear on is the condition of the bodies of water along Amy's route to work. Was the water frozen over or was the water open? Could her vehicle have driven out on the ice far enough to then have fallen through and submerge the vehicle, then the ice freeze over before the weather cleared for search? Could any indication of broken ice have been drifted over? We know about a semi-truck that went off the road into the water. Certainly it would be easy to see a semi-truck & trailer. The CAP has searched open areas by air, and a water search has been done. What if Amy became misoriented, drove off the road onto the ice, then tried to turn around, and then fell through at a place away from the road?
What I am wondering is if the water was searched well enough. Wasn't there a missing person(s) in Union County from the 1970's where the car was found near a bridge decades later? The water level dropped to the point where the car became visible. It should have been seemingly easy to find? That location was searched at the time?

3. Have folks in the area checked their property for anything out of the ordinary? Are there abandoned or seldom used out buildings where Amy's vehicle could be out of view?

 

[Luckyzmom]

@Somebody's Waiting excellent post ! Welcome to WS, glad to have you join us.
Prayers for Amy to be found soon, and prayers for strength and comfort for family and friends.

 

[Luckyzmom]

There are glacial lakes up there hope it's possible to check them out ! Not too far a drive from her home to work but the wind and snow blowing can screw you up big time before you realize you have left the roadway. MOO

 

[Somebody's Waiting]

This is what the daylight driving condition was like Dec 23, 2020. At times, zero visibility, white out. Amy left her home near Andover, SD about 5am to start her work day in Bristol, SD. Google maps show the possible routes. If you happen to look at this, you will see that there are several possible bodies of water along the roadside. It is possible that Amy could have ended up in any of them. The weather had been warm for December. The water may not have been completely frozen over or frozen sufficiently to support the weight of her car long enough to drive back off the ice. Law enforcement has been investigating, many people are concerned and have been searching.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Can you tell us the way Amy usually went to work ? Or did the conditions change the way she may have gone . TIA

 

[Somebody's Waiting]

Can you tell us the way Amy usually went to work ? Or did the conditions change the way she may have gone . TIA

I really don't know, I would say that HWY 12 would be the regular route.

 

[spangled]

This is terrible, how devastating for her family. I think car in water is sadly the most likely scenario.

 

[Somebody's Waiting]

This is terrible, how devastating for her family. I think car in water is sadly the most likely scenario.

Given the situation, this is seems to be the most probable explanation. The same day East of this location, in Webster, SD, a semi-truck and trailer went off the road and into water. A Webster police officer rescued the driver of the truck.

A water search was conducted, I am told a camera was used to look below the surface. There are several places that could be the spot. I don't know how thorough the search, there are many places to look. These bodies of water are not exactly clear. They are typically mud bottom ponds, small lakes, or sloughs that have recently become enlarged with increased rain fall. The weather locally has been warm for December. There may have not been enough ice to hold a vehicle. Folks will drive vehicles on the ice for fishing once the ice is 18 inches deep. Usually it is a snowmobile or quad, something lighter in weight. It is always risky, yet people do.

 

[Mejlee2]

"

Can you tell us the way Amy usually went to work ? Or did the conditions change the way she may have gone . TIA[/QUO
She normally took the back roads 141. The last ping on her phone was 1.3 miles from the tower. This has been devastating for her family.

 

[Mejlee2]

She normally took the back roads 141. The last ping on her phone was 1.3 miles from the tower. This has been devastating for her family.

 

[ElementalLaura]

Welcome to Websleuths, @Mejlee2. I’m sorry that it’s troubling circumstances that brought you here.

 

[Somebody's Waiting]

Word is there will be a dive team to perform a thorough search along Amy's path of travel.