WEBSTER, S.D.—The search for a missing South Dakota man is over.
Authorities have been looking for 67-year-old Richard “Butch” Carpenter, who last known to be in the Bitter Lake area near Waubay around nine o’clock Sunday night.
Today, the Day County Law Enforcement issued a statement saying, “Richard “Butch” Carpenter was located along with his vehicle. He is safe and his family has been notified. The Day County Sheriff’s Office thanks everyone for their help in this matter.”
The search for him began Monday, March 9 with no success.
Law enforcement agencies from multiple counties continued the search on Tuesday. Wes Williams, a retired Day County Emergency Manger said that a search on the lake with four-wheelers and an airboat turned up nothing. “We think the individual could possibly be out here on the lake in his vehicle and went through the ice. But we’re not positive.”
Williams continued, “His ice shack is on the shore. But we don’t know where he went from there. The family had mentioned another lake but we haven’t heard back from the Game, Fish & Parks people who were checking that lake out.
“We’ve looked at a lot of video from different businesses like gas stations to see if he stopped at one of them. We’re beating the bushes really hard.”
Then early Tuesday (March 10) afternoon, Williams contacted KWAT Radio News Director Mike Tanner and told him, “The search for the missing person (Carpenter) has been suspended in the Waubay/Bitter Lake area,” and that law enforcement is, “pursuing other leads at this time.”
Williams would not elaborate on what those “other leads” were, or where the search may shift to.
This was followed by this morning’s statement that Carpenter had been found. There was no other information provided.
