The search for a young Boy Scout who disappeared during a camping trip in Doughton Park, North Carolina, has resumed after a crucial discovery. Michael Auberry’s mess kit was found about three-quarters of a mile from where he was last seen, prompting a massive effort to locate him amidst the rugged terrain of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
With the help of 70 ground searchers, a state police helicopter, and five dog teams, the search for Michael enters a critical phase. Chopper and tactical tracking teams are now part of the operation, while drainage ditches are also being checked. The search will primarily focus on the area where Michael’s mess kit was discovered and expand outward.
David Bauer, a park ranger, believes it is likely that Michael simply wandered away to explore the woods. Michael, who was last seen wearing a red coat and hiking boots, has received survival training lessons from the Boy Scouts, but lacks the means to start a fire. Search efforts will concentrate on the space between the campsite and the location of the mess kit.
Although the situation is challenging, there is cause for hope. Michael has been trained to seek shelter at night by covering himself with leaves for warmth. Bauer remains optimistic, citing previous searches with successful outcomes that lasted even longer than a week in worse weather conditions.
Michael chose not to join his troop on a Saturday morning hike and instead opted to sleep in. After lunch with the group, he was noticed to be missing. Descriptions provided by Michael’s mother, Debbie Hayes, reveal that he was wearing a red heavy outercoat, an inner fleece coat, gloves, and a hat in his pocket. To complete his outfit, he had on a dark blue University of North Carolina Tar Heels baseball cap.
