Volunteers dwindle in search for autistic man

Last update: June 21, 2008 - 10:04 PM

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The number of volunteers diminished Saturday, the seventh day of searching near a Wisconsin camp for a missing autistic man from Shoreview.

About 350 people, down from 500 Friday, were looking around Trade Lake Camp, where Keith Kennedy, 25, was last seen last Sunday evening, said Cindi Throngard, volunteer spokeswoman for the camp for people with disabilities.

Kennedy, who needs anti-rejection medication for a kidney transplant he received from his father in 1995, apparently wandered off from the camp, located 7 miles south of Grantsburg, Wis.

"We hoped for a lot more people for the weekend," Throngard said Saturday. "We are asking for more volunteers for last two days so can cover as much territory as possible." She said she heard unofficially that the Burnett County sheriff will end the search today if no leads are found.

"Everybody really wants to find him," she said.

At the sheriff's command center, deputy Glenn Gramer said no decision has been made on ending the search. "As far as I know we are going out Sunday. It's a day-to-day thing," he said.

Kennedy was last seen wearing a dull orange shirt and blue wind pants. By now, he would have grown a short beard; he has a dark crew cut. He is 140 pounds and 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Anyone interested in joining the search should call the camp at 1-715-488-2690. Anyone with information about Kennedy is urged to call 1-715-488-2121.

JIM ADAMS