The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 16, 2012

Family takes up search for missing man

Police call off effort

By Tom Davidson Herald Staff Writer

EAST LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP — An 80-year-old East Lackawannock Township man who left home on Friday remained missing Sunday night, according to family members and police.

Donald Lee Mariacher’s family and friends were the only ones still looking for him Sunday, his daughter-in-law Michelle Mariacher said.

“We had some neighbors out here that have been helping us and high school friends of my husband’s,” she said.

But an official search for him by authorities apparently ended Saturday afternoon.

State Trooper Joseph Yuran said a helicopter that had been used to search for Mariacher Saturday wasn’t doing so Sunday.

“He hasn’t been located,” Yuran said.

Police had been searching the area around Mariacher’s home at 790 Perry Highway.

He left the residence on foot between 11 a.m. and noon Friday and never returned.

Rescue workers were using helicopters and search dogs to look for him Friday, according to a Mercer County 911 supervisor, who said Saturday that state police were assisted by East End Volunteer Fire Department, Superior Ambulance and State MedEvac.

East End Fire Chief Bill Finley Jr. didn’t return messages seeking comment Sunday.

Authorities called off the initial search for the night about 1:30 a.m. Saturday and resumed at 9 a.m., the 911 supervisor said.

Police searched until “close to 3 p.m.” Saturday, Yuran said.

Mariacher was last seen walking south on U.S. Route 19 toward Interstate 80. He is white, about 5 feet, three inches tall and 140 pounds, police said.

Police said Mariacher was possibly wearing a red checkered flannel shirt, gray shorts and a light-colored ballcap when he left his home.

“All we know is he started walking up the hill. We have two witnesses that saw him walking up the hill and that’s all we know,” Michelle Mariacher said. “As far as we know the police aren’t looking (anymore) and they haven’t contacted us today. They stopped the search yesterday and that’s about it.”

She said her father-in-law had high blood pressure but was in “decent” shape.

“He rarely left the house,” she said “If he would have fallen, he wouldn’t have been able to get up on his own.”

The family searched possible spots where he may have been walking toward, to no avail, she said.



Anyone with information about Mariacher’s whereabouts is asked to call state police at 724-662-6162.

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