NC Man Missing in Rumney, NH; Found walking 240 miles from home

UPDATE: Aug 11, 2012
MARION, N.C. - A man who went missing in July near Stinson Lake in Rumney has been found by authorities in his home state of North Carolina.

Hugh Armstrong, 72, was located at about 1 a.m. walking along the road in Marion, North Carolina, about 240 miles west of his hometown in Clayton, N.C. Armstrong was confused and wasn’t sure where he was going, but overall, he was in good physical health, said police.

Armstrong’s son-in-law, Craig Black, says a deputy found information on Armstrong in a missing person database and identified him. Black said he was shocked when he got the news. It appear Armstrong made his way to North Carolina by walking and hitchhiking, said authorities. Armstrong’s family has been contacted, and they’re making arrangements to bring him home.

 Happy Ending!


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UPDATE: 7/30/2012

RUMNEY — The largest search effort in the state this year for a missing person has concluded after five days with no sign of a North Carolina man. Hugh Armstrong, 72, visiting with 11 members of his family for a week's vacation near Stinson Lake, went out for an early morning walk Wednesday and has not been seen since.

Armstrong, who grew up on a farm and spent a career in business, is not known to have any physical or mental health problems and is considered a strong walker. But he is not familiar with the locale or its rugged terrain.

He was wearing sneakers, eyeglasses, a white baseball hat, shorts and a T-shirt when he left the family's rental unit at Hawthorne Village. He had no cell phone, food or water with him. Family members said he went out with a plan to walk the 5.2 miles around the mountain lake and return home by 9 a.m.

Hugh Armstrong

By 12:30 p.m. that day, after driving the dirt roads surrounding the lake and not locating him, searchers were called. By Saturday, more than 90 volunteers responded to the call and joined line search teams, said Fish and Game Lt. Jim Kneeland, who is in charge of the search. Others brought food to a American Red Cross relief station set up at the White Mountain Ranch on the northern shore of the lake, while others who lived in the area took to the woods behind their homes to search for some sign of the man.

Kneeland said the volunteer efforts were complemented by the largest professional effort by far this year, more than 20 conservation officers, the State Police Special Emergency Response Team with dogs and a helicopter, the Army National Guard helicopters and organized volunteers, including New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Pemi Valley Search and Rescue and local fire departments.

Bill Taffe, who heads up Emergency Medical Services for the town of Rumney, was manning the ambulance after several days of line searching. He said he has never seen such a large and lengthy search for a missing person in the town. “It's anybody's guess” where Armstrong is, he said. “There's lots and lots of theories.” But Kneeland said by now, he would have expected Armstrong to “pop out” of the woods somewhere if he was able, though he conceded “these are big woods.” The effort began with hasty teams and bloodhounds then proceeded to grid searches near the Hawthorne Village and spread out along the edge of the road down toward the lake and up above the lake. 

As each day went on, the teams went further afield with teams focusing on river drainage above and below the lake, surrounded by steep hills. On Sunday the focus was Mead Pond, above Stinson Lake, with five line search teams out in the woods. Saturday the focus was in the area of Stinson Mountain, a two-mile hike from the trailhead, while others searched toward Ellsworth on and off a number of roads. “This is our last big day,” said Kneeland Sunday, noting there would be no requests for volunteers on Monday. He said he would give helicopter crews, who have been hampered by low cloud cover, a few places to look in the next few days. The weather has been primarily in the 70s and 60s, with some heavy rain showers. 

Asked if he thinks Armstrong is out there, Kneeland looked up above the lake and said, “I think I do.” He said that the family has been briefed daily of what is going on and what the plan for the coming day is. They were informed Saturday night that the search was concluding Sunday.

“They took it well. They really do appreciate the locals that have jumped in to line search and helped in any way they could,” Kneeland said. He said when there is spare time, conservation officers will continue to search the area for Armstrong. He still remained hopeful. “It might be what it takes is a good samaritan out in the woods” to find Armstrong. Those who believe they may have seen Armstrong are asked to call 846-3333.

CONCORD, N.H. – N.H. Fish and Game Department Law Enforcement staff are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a lost person, Hugh Armstrong, age 72, of Clayton, North Carolina. Armstrong was last seen leaving for a walk from Hawthorne Village in Rumney, N.H., at about 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, and was supposed to have returned by 9:00 a.m. Armstrong was reportedly planning to walk around Stinson Lake via Cross Road and Doe Town Road. It is unknown how long he has been in Rumney, or whether he is familiar with the area. Armstrong is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He has brown-gray hair, gray eyes, and wears glasses. He is thought to be wearing a white Red Sox hat, a red or blue t-shirt, and shorts. Anyone who has seen Armstrong is asked to call State Police Troop F at (603) 846-3333.

UPDATE:
Fish and Game Conservation Officers, New Hampshire State Police, Rumney Fire Dept., and other search and rescue organizations are participating in the search for Armstrong.

State Police Lt. Todd Landry said Hugh Armstrong of Clayton, N.C., is here with his family visiting Stinson Lake on vacation and went out for "a short walk," abut 6:30 a.m. Landry said Armstrong had no health issues and was planning to walk from Hawthorne Village along the edge of the lake.

Twelve hours later, Landry said the search for Armstrong continues and includes the New England K-9 Search and Rescue on the ground, the NH State Police helicopter in the air, state Fish and Game officials, and local fire and police.

He said that at night helicopters in the air would be able to use infrared radar - which picks up the heat of a person's body - but only once it became dark.

Update 7/27/2012:About 60 searchers are looking for Armstrong, including New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers, state police, local fire department personnel and two canine search teams. The American Red Cross is on hand providing food and comfort to the searchers.