By Jessica Brown
A picture of Kenny Gauges/submitted photo
Family, friends, area law enforcement and other volunteers came together Monday morning near Glasgow to form a search party of about 30 people for a man who had been reported missing since Friday, January 10th.
At the time of the search party Kenny Gauges, age 54, 6 ‘1”, weighing 156 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes had last been seen on Thursday the 9th on Patterson Road near Glasgow. The search on Monday launched from Gauges’ home and traveled north along Patterson Road, searching an area extending 150-200 yards out on either side of the road, according to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
He was reported to have been walking on Glasgow Road towards Winchester on Wednesday, January 8th when he was picked up by a motorist who gave him a ride to Dollar General in Winchester. According to an employee at the store, Gauges was wearing a black Led Zeppelin hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and brown slipper boots.
The employee said they contacted police Wednesday out of concern for Gauges when he seemed disoriented and confused about how he’d gotten to the store. The employee said once authorities arrived, they contacted the family to come retrieve Gauges and he proceeded to leave the store with a family member.
It was reported that Gauges was seen walking on Patterson Road near Glasgow on Thursday, January 9th. Although Gauges had only been missing for a short time by Friday, concerned loved ones knew finding his whereabouts was imperative due a medical condition he takes medication for. Many urgent pleas for help finding the missing man were posted on Facebook over the next few days, with dozens of people sharing the post about his description and advertising the search party.
Multiple emergency response agencies aided in the search, including law enforcement from Greene County Sheriff’s Department, who is in charge of the investigation as well as the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, White Hall and Winchester Police Departments and firefighters from the White Hall and Roodhouse areas. Volunteers made up a large part of the search effort as well.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Department thanked all the volunteer efforts during the ground search on Facebook Monday. “Your commitment and assistance in trying to locate Kenny Gauges was amazing and will not be forgotten..” The Department also commented on the post that they were confident that Gauges would be found.
By Monday afternoon, Gauges had not been located, but some of his clothing was found west of his last known location, where the search was said to have continued.
Anyone who knows anything about Gauge’s location can contact the Scott County Sheriff’s Department at 217-742-3141 or the Greene County Sheriff’s Department at 217-942-6901. Tips can also be reported to Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties at 217-243-7300 or Two Rivers Crime Stoppers at 1-800-300-2590.
Although the investigation is being headed by the Green County Sheriff’s Department, Scott County law enforcement aided in the search by checking areas near Gauges’ home on the Greene County-Scott County line.
Vehicles used in the search party Monday by volunteers and emergency responders. Jessica Brown/Scott County Times.
-ATV vehicles
-Greene County Sheriff’s Department SUV
-A Roodhouse Fire Department Truck