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Austin Taylor Bice -SDU student missing in Spain

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Austin Taylor Bice -SDU student missing in Spain

Members: 15
Latest Activity: Nov 12, 2016

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/04/spanish-police-issue-continent-wide-alert-about-mi/

It would be interesting to learn how the authorities in Spain are conducting their search and exactly what type of assistance has been provided by the U.S. thus far.   Anyone have further information?

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Comment by Sharon E. Avila on March 5, 2011 at 6:47pm

Thank you Julie for making that call. Please keep us posted on the outcome. If we are going to be able to "brainstorm" this incident from afar, we will need as much information as possible.  I haven't been able to ascertain the specifics of this incident but based on his size (6'5" and 240 pounds) I'm not so sure he would have been an easy "target" for abduction. Most of what I've read indicates he had some drinks but his friends state he was not intoxicated.  Definitely something amiss here.......maybe his friends know more than they are saying?  I believe that SAR in Spain operates at the direction of the government - hopefully, they are utilizing every qualified resource possible. Lets do whatever we can to help the family everyone. 

Comment by Julie R. Jones on March 5, 2011 at 4:33pm

They can't have a dog just come in that can possibly 'start' a trail and then not be able to continue with it because of the urban environment and possible vehicle trail. 

 

I do not know any resources in Spain unfortunately, but I have just put a call into someone that might be able to lead me in the right direction should anyone (from the family, etc.), be interested.  Please note that this caliber of work however, is not common.

Comment by Michele Bodah on March 5, 2011 at 4:24pm

I agree. Using a specialized scent specific trailing dog would need to be brought in. Hopefully the authorities are a least doing something to find this young man. Our prayers are with him and his family.

Comment by Julie R. Jones on March 5, 2011 at 3:40pm
As always, excellent work Cynthia - thanks so much. 
Comment by Cynthia Caron on March 5, 2011 at 2:55pm

I posted him on my wall here too yesterday with a different photo:

http://missingamericans.ning.com/profiles/blogs/missing-austin-tayl...

 

Comment by Julie R. Jones on March 5, 2011 at 2:55pm
Regarding Sharon's comment below, most K9's are not trained to work older or aged scents.  Therefore the older this case gets, the more that you need to make sure that specialized trained scent specific trailing dogs would need to be brought in.  They would need to be able to do aged, much contaminated trails, and do vehicle trails.
Comment by Julie R. Jones on March 5, 2011 at 2:50pm

We need to find out what has been done for actual on-the-ground searches including K9's and what the experience of the K9's were.  If they are the 'traditional' law enforcement (LE) tracking K9's and traditional search and rescue (SAR) K9's, then they would probably not be able to follow Austin's trail too far if in an urban (contaminated) setting, let alone do a vehicle trail (K9 able to follow Austin if he left in a vehicle).

Comment by Sharon E. Avila on March 5, 2011 at 1:12pm

I'm not sure if dogs have been utilized or not although I agree that a tracking dog could have potentially picked-up on a direction of travel if put to task early enough.

According to the International travel data at travel.state.gov Spain has a moderate rate of crime.  Appears that petty theft occurs frequently and GHB is sometimes an issue. 

In studying a map of Madrid, I noticed that there are a few parks & one large area in-particular- "CASA de CAMPO" that are very close to where he was last seen (Puerta de Angel).  There also appears to be a decent sized body of water there.  Had he been intoxicated as reported by El Pais, it is possible that he could have wandered into such an area and could be lost. 

 

In any event, reports state that the authorities in Spain were SLOW to respond.  I would imagine that the State Dept. hasn't done much either.  Would anyone happen to have a contact in Spain? 

Comment by Michele Bodah on March 5, 2011 at 12:15pm
Has the authorities in Spain deployed and tracking dogs to help find Austin?
Comment by Sharon E. Avila on March 5, 2011 at 10:27am
Does anyone have any information on how the authorities in Spain are conducting their search or what type of assistance has been provided by the U.S.?
 

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