Volunteers continue search for missing Greenwich teen
While New York State Police and Forest Rangers haven't been on the ground in two days, volunteers continue their search for 18-year-old Jesse Cale. YNN's Matt Hunter reports.
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GREENWICH, N.Y. -- After more than four days since he disappeared from his family's Greenwich campsite early Saturday morning, the search continues for Jesse Cale.
Led by the 18-year-old's own mother, a team of more than 30 volunteers scoured the area around Route 113 and the Hudson River Wednesday morning.
"I have to find him, I can't not be out here,” Stacey Cale said. “He's somewhere, he is, he's somewhere."
Many members of the search party know the Cale family well. Linda Perry's son was due to graduate from Schuylerville High School with Jesse next month.
"He’s the same age as my son. I looked at him this morning,” Perty said. “I couldn't even imagine what they're going through."
Others who showed up were complete strangers but couldn't resist the urge to help.
"It's real important. I just lost my son back in January,” said Leon Girard. “He was hit by a car, and the entire community came to help us, and whenever we see a family that's lost a child, it's heart-wrenching for us and [we'll do] whatever we can to help."
Regardless of the relationship, all came with the same goal in mind: finding Jesse.
Some brought boats to survey the riverbanks, while others fought through rough and sometimes dangerous terrain.
"We're willing to do anything we can to help the family or the community," volunteer David Blackmer said.
"We want to find him and everyone's going to have to do what they have to do," Perry said.
State Police and Forrest Rangers haven't conducted a ground search since Monday, but did make use of their helicopter Wednesday afternoon.
As the situation grows increasingly urgent, loved ones are begging everyone to help out in any way they can.
"It’s living hell,” said Cale, as she searched a trail along the Hudson River. “This is isn't supposed to happen to anybody."
According to a member of the New York State Forrest Rangers, it's very likely crews will resume their ground search of the area Thursday morning.