Thu Jun 11, 2009, 07:52 AM CDT
New information in the search for Branson Perry led investigators to Quitman this week, but that search has ended. At least temporarily.
Authorities received the information from a credible source, Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said, but as of Wednesday, they still hadn't found Perry.
"We got some information that has led us to this different location and we hope that it closes this case for us, but as of right now, we still have not found anything," White said.
Officials with the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol began searching a lot on Mulberry Street in Quitman on Tuesday and into Wednesday. Crews with backhoes dug up a section of the property, but as of Wednesday evening, the search had ended, White said. He didn't rule out the possibility of returning to the town in the future. White said he could not comment on the specifics of the information that led authorities to Quitman.
Perry went missing from his father's home in Skidmore on April 11, 2001. He had been cleaning the house with a friend when he went to take some jumper cables out to a nearby shed. Perry — 20-years-old at the time of his disappearance — has been missing ever since.
Authorities want to close the case for a couple of reasons, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Sheldon Lyon said. One, to potentially bring justice to whomever might be responsible for Perry's disappearance, and two, to bring closure to Perry's family.
"Whenever you get information that you believe has the possibility of being correct and valid, you're always hopeful," Lyon said. "This may end up being a homicide, but also, we have a family out there who's missing their son. And so we're hopeful that we can find Branson — if he's deceased — so that we can bring closure and give that family some peace of mind, knowing that they've laid their son to rest."
Anyone with any information regarding the case is asked to call the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department at (660) 582-7451 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (816) 387-2345.
Whether it be in Quitman or anywhere else, Lyon said authorities act on any credible leads they get and that's why they were in Quitman.
"I still feel that investigators are acting on information that is good information," Lyon said.
"Hopefully, as we continue to investigate this case, we'll get the exact information to where we can find him."
