Friend organises search for missing man

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A longtime friend of Rudolph Smith has launched efforts to build a search team of concerned residents, as family members enter a ninth day still without word on his whereabouts.

Police held a press conference on Monday to confirm that the motorcycle Mr Smith was last seen riding was pulled from waters in front of Grace Methodist Church on North Shore.

The discovery was made following a tip by a member of the public who called the police. Mr Smith has been missing from his home on Border Lane in Pembroke since July 9.

Meanwhile, a distraught woman who has known Mr Smith for several years has set up an instant messaging group to organise an islandwide search.

The woman who asked that her full name not be used said she received close to 30 responses soon as she started the group yesterday.

“Rudy is someone who could travel from Somerset to St George’s, and I just think we need to get people organised so we can search for him,” she said.

“If a lot of people come out we can cover this whole island within a couple of days.

“I was even more concerned when the police found his bike overboard on Monday, a bike that someone saw Rudy riding on Sunday July 8 off the hill in Deepdale; that’s not good.

“Maybe he was injured somewhere or kidnapped, I’ve been searching myself since last week, I put up posters after I got permission from Rudy’s mother, whose phone has been ringing of the hook with words of comfort, but very little in terms of solid information on Rudy’s whereabouts,” she added.

“There are people out here who want to help the police, and we’re willing to help them search, we will also need a base point for those who want to help who may need assistance with children while parents engage in the search efforts,” she said.

“Perhaps a church will offer their hall as a base for the search but I strongly believe we need an islandwide manhunt and I would like to get it started by this weekend to include derelict houses, empty buildings, caves and large grassy areas.

“Maybe we can even join forces with the police and the Bermuda Regiment,” she added.

Anyone interested in assisting can contact her by e-mail at dawnellecampbell@yahoo.com.

Meanwhile, anyone with information is urged to contact the Serious Crime Unit in confidence at 247-1340, or alternatively to call the confidential and anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 800-8477, as the search by police continues.

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