PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — After discussions with his family, the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office plans to reduce the size of the search efforts for a missing Pierre man who is presumed to have drowned Friday afternoon on the Missouri River south of the Oahe Dam.
The search for Lee Weber, 37, has been on-going since Friday afternoon. Yesterday’s effort included approximately 20 boats, 50 searchers, drones, and the state Highway Patrol airplane. The 15-mile stretch covered went from Diver’s Point south to Antelope Creek.
The downsized search will use Pierre Rescue boats and drones from the Hughes/Stanley County Emergency Management Office and the Pierre Police Department, when available.
Citizens are asked to remain alert for possible sightings of Weber while on the Missouri River or along shorelines. Please call Pierre Police Dispatch at 605-773-4710 if you locate Weber.
A GoFundMe page has been established for Weber’s family. It says donations will be used to assist with memorial expenses, daily expenses that come with raising six children and future educational expenses. In addition to the fundraising website, the Lee Weber Memorial Account has been established at BankWest. Find a link to Weber’s GoFundMe page at www.drgnews.com.
Weber was the Hughes County Chief Deputy Sheriff and served in the South Dakota National Guard.
The Stanley County Sheriff’s Office thanks all of the agencies and volunteers who have helped with the search. Respect for the privacy of the family is requested at this time.
(Jody Heemstra, DRG News, contributed this report.)
