COWLEY COUNTY —The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to search for missing 81-year-old Jerry McConnell. Her car was located in rural Cowley County, Kansas.
The search area is a large ranch and the majority of it has been searched, either on foot or by air. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting volunteers to assist with a full grid-search on Thursday, May 22nd, at 10:00 am.
The ranch is located in the 4000 block of 327th Road and parking will be difficult and mainly on the dirt road. The area to be searched does have rough terrain. We will have a check in point and you will be put into groups and given instructions.
This is private property and we have set some rules that all volunteers must follow.
I have read that several people want to bring horses, drones ect. This area has been extensively searched by helicopters, drones, horses, side by sides, four wheelers, trackers, specialized dog teams, and water rescue units. Please follow the following rules.
- A staging area has been set up at the Kansas Department of Transportation strip just west of 303rd Road on the north side of US 160, you will need to park there and then ride to the search area by bus.
- We will turn any non-first responders around and direct them to the staging area described in number 1. if volunteers try to drive to the ranch on their own.
- This is strictly a walking search, so no horses side by sides or four wheelers on the property
- Once you are transported to the ranch you will be required to check in and give your personal information
- Bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen and bug repellent.
- Please take your trash with you
- Any gate that is opened must be closed behind you. These properties have cattle on them so please do not try to have contact or try to pet the cattle
- The time to meet at the KDOT strip is 10:00 am. There is no way to gauge how many volunteers we will have, and although we are grateful for their service we may have to limit the numbers to a controllable number.
- Please be patient
- The landowners have requested that the media not come onto the ranch and video, again this is private property
- Lastly, when you are assigned, an area please search only that area. All outbuildings and residences, tank batteries have already been searched by first responders and are clear
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JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement searching for a missing 81-year-old woman have located her vehicle.
Late Tuesday, the Cowley County Sheriff's office in south central Kansas contacted Overland Park Police to report they had found Jerry McConnell's 2009 Honda Accord., according to Officer John Lacy. Authorities continue to search that area for her.
On Saturday, the Overland Park Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for McConnell of Overland Park.
McConnell was last seen on Wednesday afternoon in Harrisonville, Missouri and was driving to her residence in Overland Park, Kansas.
McConnell was believed to be driving a grey 2009 Honda Accord bearing Texas license plate RFP836. McConnell also may have been near Severy, Kansas on May 15.
McConnell is a white female who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. She has blue eyes and gray hair. If you see Jerry McConnell, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, call the Overland Park Police Department at (913)-895-6300.