Published Monday, July 22, 2002
Rescue workers were searching the Shenango River today for an Edinburg man who disappeared Sunday while fishing with friends in Hermitage.
Randy "D.J." Dando was reported missing at 9:50 p.m. Sunday after he and several friends were fishing off Kelly Road near the Sharpsville Recreation Area, Hermitage police Chief Edward Stanton said.
After a land and helicopter search of the area Sunday night, rescue crews on boats with "cadaver" dogs began dragging the river about 8 a.m. today, Stanton said. They were joined by divers at about 10 a.m.
Dando, approximately 25-26 years old with shoulder-length brown hair, was last seen by two of his friends around 7 p.m. near the river, Stanton said. He said a couple of people saw a person fitting Dando's description near the river around 9 p.m.
Those people said they heard some noises soon after that and went to check them out but didn't see anything, Stanton said. After Dando's friends reported him missing, police from Hermitage and Sharpsville responded and found Dando's baseball cap floating in the water. Hermitage Volunteer Fire Department is coordinating the search.
The Army Corps of Engineers -- which administers Shenango River Lake -- and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are helping in the search.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Hermitage police department at (724) 983-6780.