Search For Missing N.C. Boy Scout Goes On

(CBS/AP)  Search crews climbed across a heavily wooded mountain area in western North Carolina Monday, looking for a 12-year-old boy who disappeared during a weekend camping trip with his Boy Scout troop.

Michael Auberry vanished in the rugged terrain surrounding the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday after lunch with the other Scouts. Searchers found his mess kit within a mile of the camp site, but no new clues had surfaced Monday, officials said.

"We're hopeful he was able to find shelter. There are a number of rock crevasses, and he could have covered himself up with leaves," said Mike Lambert, a ranger with North Carolina State Parks.

Michael was dressed for the weather, with a heavy red coat with an inner fleece coat, and he had gloves and a hat in a pocket, his mother said.

The temperature dipped into the 20s overnight but was expected to be in the upper 50s during the day. Monday morning, about 70 people aided by search dogs and a helicopter began a third day of searching the area's logging roads and trails and scouring rugged off-road regions.

"I talked to a state park ranger here at the park, and he says he's seen people survive in worse conditions so they are still pulling out hope that Michael Auberry is OK," reports WFMY's Tracy McCain.

The rangers were working with the boy's family to learn everything they could about Michael's wilderness skills and how he might react to the situation, ranger Tina White said Monday.

She said an Amber Alert notifying area law enforcement of his disappearance had also been issued as a precaution, "in case for some reason he is not on the area in which we are searching."

About 10 scouts and their three adult leaders noticed Michael was missing after eating lunch together Saturday.

"The most probable thing is that he walked away, went out in the woods and went to investigate," Bauer said.

Michael, a Scout for about a year, likes camping, but he doesn't like the cold, his father, Kent Auberry of Greensboro, told the Winston-Salem Journal.

The boy had stayed behind with an adult leader Saturday morning while the rest of the troop went for a hike that morning "because apparently he wanted to sleep in." The troop members returned for lunch. Soon after, between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., they noticed Michael was missing from the camp, Bauer said.

Bauer said he wasn't aware of Michael having any arguments or problems with the troop members or his family.

Debbie Hayes, Michael's mother, said in addition to the red coat, the boy was wearing a dark blue University of North Carolina Tar Heels baseball cap.

"We're doing our best to provide moral support to the family, to the leaders of the troop," said John Meeks, Scout Executive of the Greensboro-based Old North State Council, which governs the troop and others in the region. "They're asking for prayers. As you can imagine, they're concerned."

Meeks said the troops' leaders were highly qualified. He said other scouts have left the area and returned home, but adults from the troop were on the scene.

[rohink-2009]

random_radar.

Honestly, out of all the speculation that went on on this particular post and you question my intelligence because I simply stated something didn't see right?

I think maybe you might not be too intelligent.

[rohink-2009]

"Weird. This whole thing doesn't make any sense. And if it doesn't make any sense, somethings not right.
Posted by rohink at 12:15 PM : Mar 19, 2007"

Either that, or you aren't intelligent enough to make sense of it. It is trully frightening to see so many people making such dark accusations based on sketchy information. Its just a breaking news story, now a court deposition.

I see why so many innocent people go to prison if this is the kind of jury pool we have to rely on. It's not even "shoot first, ask questions later." It's hang 'em high and never question.
With all the dark sinister quotes on this post, I find it interesting that you picked mine and accuse me of not being intelligent. I just said something doesn't seem right. Give me a break.

[km523]

The first thing I thought was, Why was this child alone! My son went on a camping trip with his church and NEVER is any child to be alone, even escorted to the outside bathroom. Something is definitely fishy and Someone needs to tell the truth!!

[ryates6]

i was in the scouts as a child ,we were never allowed alone with a leader and never allowed to miss any scout function ,if we were going on a hike we all went ,or we all stayed ,they never split the group,and they sure as heck didnt leave us alone with a leader ,oh and by the way 20 some years later the scout leader is listed as a convicted child molester in the town where he was a leader for many years ....they really need to find the truth here.....

[zootallures2]

Scout leaders for boys and girls should be women, only. It's just plain common sense. If I was 13 and nailed my female teacher, I would hardly be traumatized. Proud maybe...LOL.

[random_radar]

"Weird. This whole thing doesn't make any sense. And if it doesn't make any sense, somethings not right.
Posted by rohink at 12:15 PM : Mar 19, 2007"

Either that, or you aren't intelligent enough to make sense of it. It is trully frightening to see so many people making such dark accusations based on sketchy information. Its just a breaking news story, now a court deposition.

I see why so many innocent people go to prison if this is the kind of jury pool we have to rely on. It's not even "shoot first, ask questions later." It's hang 'em high and never question.

[smasterb]

Also morning role should be taken in some manner such as an opening ceremony or Grace. Where the Scouts are broken down into their smaller groups called patrols and a missing a boy quickly becomes evident. How else can the leaders be certain the boy did not wander off in the middle of the night? In which case the search could begin immediately.
To jump to the conclusion something sinister has happened with so few facts is to say the least is irresponsible and immature. To believe, based on any statement given in this article that these adults are bad people is unsubstantiated. At worst they are badly trained

[smasterb]

First, for all the judges and jurist out there, take a break. There will be time to condemn those involved after more information comes to light. If you feel that is really necessary or helpful. As for what has been reported so far there appears a lack of training. The adults on this outing ignored several basics in Troop leadership and safety. The BSA has very clear rules on how Troop operations are to be conducted. As was mentioned in an earlier post, two-deep leadership is required 100% of the time from the beginning of the activity to the end. There is also the rule of four. At minimum there should be two adults and two youth with one of the adults being trained. And of course the buddy system is one of the most effective safety tools available in any type of outdoor activity. As for sleeping in, the adults in this unit may not have working understanding of the Methods of Scouting in many of which discipline is a vital part.

[illious77]

Well, something does sound fishy. If they had trained leaders, they should know that you are never, ever allowed (except in dire emergencies which this seems it was not) to have 1 leader and 1 scout alone. You must have if possible 2 adult leaders, or at minimum, 2 youths. That's just the rules from BSA, last I heard.

As for what usmcvn posted:
"There has been an ongoing battle to keep fa@@ot leaders out of Boy Scouting in recent years."

You have to remember that the largest percentage of child molesters, male on male or male on female, are straight men.

[sshard]

This is not the first case where children were outing with adults and a children disappeared. I hope the child is ok, and the adults are aked some pointed question,like were you were sleeping on the watch.