AMHERST COUNTY, Va. – The Virginia Department of Emergency Management and search and rescue has called off the search for a missing 30-year-old Buena Vista man in Amherst County in the area of Panther Falls Road.
Viar said search and rescue personnel believe they've done all they can in that area to find Chad Austin, who was last seen Monday.
More than 15 dogs were used in the search for Austin, and none could detect a trace of him, according to Viar.
If any leads come the Amherst County Sheriff's Office will continue to assist Buena Vista Police with their investigation.
While searching for Austin, crews did find a set of keys that belong to Austin lying in the road not far from the vehicle he had been driving. The key to the car was not found.
Members of local, state and federal agencies all assisted in the search.
If anyone locates Mr.Austin please contact Buena Vista Police Department.
ORIGINAL STORY (May 30, 2019, at 9:11 p.m.)
As the search for a missing 30-year-old Buena Vista man continues, local, state and federal agencies are taking part in the search.
Chad Austin was last seen Monday, according to the Buena Vista Police Department.
On Tuesday, the Amherst County Sheriff's Office received a call about an abandoned vehicle on Panther Falls Road at 12:38 p.m. where a dog was left inside the vehicle
Authorities were able to get the dog out of the car.
At that time, deputies made contact with Austin's family, who decided to not pursue a missing person report.
On Wednesday, a missing person report for Austin was filed with the Buena Vista Police Department.
Wednesday evening, members of the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office and Buena Vista Police Department assisted the Amherst County Sheriff's Office with the search.
As the search continued Thursday, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Emergency Services, SAR, Amherst Public Safety, Virginia Conservation Police, Buena Vista police and U.S. Park Police all assisted with the search efforts.
The American Red Cross provided meals to everyone involved in the search.