Lake Medina Search – May 10th and May 15th, 2015

On Sunday, May 10th, 2015, at the request of the Texas Rangers and Bandera County Sheriff’s Office, several TEXSAR K9 handlers were pulled off of a local training exercise to conduct a spontaneous search for a man who was reported missing the prior month. The impromptu search was conducted after the man’s vehicle was located in the brush and swampy terrain of the Lake Medina lake bed not far from the training location.  After a brief search, TEXSAR’s K9 team called in TEXSAR air assets to assist with a search of the immediate vicinity.  Although the victim was not located at that time, TEXSAR helicopter activity in the area resulted in neighbors coming forward who provided clues critical to the case.

TEXSAR was called back to the area for a more thorough search on Friday, May 15th, 2015.  TEXSAR K9, ground search, and air assets were used in the search. After a short search, a person’s remains were located in heavy brush in the new search area. TEXSAR personnel remained at the scene until it was secured by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office. The remains were later identified as those of Lakehills resident John Garrett.

TEXSAR would like to thank the Texas Rangers and Bandera County Sheriff’s office for their efforts in this challenging search. TEXSAR would also like to extend our most sincere condolences to the family.

Media coverage:
http://www.banderabulletin.com/news/article_843293d0-ffe5-11e4-a75a-03ef99accc07.html