Search continues for missing Ironton man

Published 4:48 pm Thursday, July 18, 2024

CAMPTON, Ky. — The search for a missing Ironton man in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky continued on Wednesday with additional searchers and an expanded search area.

In a Facebook post by the Wolfe County Search & Rescue, they said the vehicle of Scott Allen Hern was found on July 13 in a parking lot on Highway 715 in Red River Gorge.

Hern was reported as missing to the Ironton Police Department by his family after they hadn’t seen him since July 4 and last heard from him on July 5.

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Members of the Wolfe County Search & Rescue was sent into the Sal Branch Waterfalls area on Tuesday night and searched until midnight but were unable to located Hern in the very rugged off-trail area.

On Wednesday, the search was expanded into a new area of the woods with and with additional searchers.

In a Facebook post, officials said that 25 team members from Wolfe County Search & Rescue, Powell County Search & Rescue and Red STAR Wilderness EMS and two canine units from Hunter Hounds focused the search in the area of Tower Rock and Sal Branch Waterfalls.

A new lead placed Hern in the woods off the Tower Rock Trail on July 6 and previously reported last-seen date of July 13 was not accurate and is being revised to July 6 at both the Jump Rock parking area and Tower Rock Trail. Investigators believe that Hern’s vehicle has not moved since July 6.

A larger scale ground search is being planned for Saturday if he is not found prior.

Hern is 48 and described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing 275 pounds and having light brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information about this case can call, Wolfe County dispatch at 606-668-6757.