Watch CBS News

Park Service Ends Search For Missing Everglades Visitor

MIAMI (CBS4) – The search for a visitor to Everglade National Park has ended without the man being found, and the park service has officially declared Jacob Olivier missing, Now, they've asked other agencies to take over efforts to find the man.

The search began August 30th, when park rankers noticed a pickup truck had been parked for days near Evergreen Lake, without moving. Rangers tracked down the owner of the truck, Tracy Olivier of Spring, Texas, who said the truck was being driven by his son, Jacob.

When rangers were able to determine the truck had been in the park since August 24th, a week long search was mounted that eventually included 45 people and assistance from departments lending helicopters, dog teams, and manpower, but no trace of Olivier was found.

Rangers were able to use Olivier's cellphone signal in an effort to locate the man, but were only able to narrow the area in which the phone was located.

"The Civil Air Patrol, using triangulation technology from Mr. Olivier's cell phone contributed significantly to this search as it allowed rangers to narrow the search to within 11.5 miles from the vehicle, focusing the air, canine, and foot search on this area," said Willie Lopez, Pine Island District Ranger, who served as the Incident Commander for the Search and Rescue operation.

Park rangers coordinated with Olivier's father to have the truck towed to the park, and have supplied police agencies with information they can use in efforts to locate Olivier.

Even though the search has officially ended, Anyone who believes they may have seen Mr. Olivier while visiting the park or have other information to his whereabouts can contact park dispatch at 305-242-7740.

This is the second park visitor this year to disappear after entering the park. Oregon retired butcher Roger Sawyer disappeared while his family was camping near Flamingo last March, and despite a massive search, he was never found.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.