AMES, Iowa -- The search for Iowa State University sophomore Abel Bolanos, 19, continues as teams of students and other volunteers join together Tuesday (April 3) with trained searchers from the STAR 1 team, Civil Air Patrol and local law enforcement in the effort.
Groups of 60 volunteers will assist searchers in each of three shifts Tuesday: 9 a.m. to noon; 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Students involved in ROTC, ISU's Government of the Student Body, and fraternities and sororities have signed up to help on Tuesday morning. More volunteers are needed for the 1 and 5 p.m. shifts and possibly in the coming days.
"Missing persons cases often require a sustained effort," said ISU Police Captain Rob Bowers. "We appreciate the community's willingness to aid in the search, but we also want to prepare and organize volunteers to make the best use of all resources available and to preserve any possible evidence."
How to volunteer
ISU/Ames community members who want to help in the search for Bolanos are asked to call ISU's Student Activities Center at (515) 294-8081 to sign up for a shift. More information regarding meeting locations, training and instructions will be provided at that time.
Volunteers are reminded to wear appropriate clothing (jeans, coats or raingear, and durable, closed-toed shoes) suitable for covering terrain.
"Our hope is that we find Abel soon," said Dean of Students Dione Somerville. "We are committing all available resources and continue to work with ISU Police, other agencies and Abel's family to bring him home safely."
Details of Bolanos' disappearance have been provided to the National Crime Information Center. ISU Police continue to investigate any and all leads. Anyone with information about Bolanos' whereabouts is urged to call (515) 294-4428.