Group comes on board in search for Barstow mother

Volunteers turn up no evidence in search for missing mother Event brings 260 volunteers; family plans for another search February 23, 2009 - 3:44 PM By CHARLES NGUYEN, staff writer ORO GRANDE • An eight-hour search of areas in Oro Grande on Saturday turned up no pieces of evidence in the case of Leisa Hurst, a missing single mother from Barstow, but drew more than 260 volunteers, many who showed up with equipment and vehicles to support the search. The search party was the second since Hurst was reported missing on Jan. 22 and the first to be led by Trinity Search and Recovery, a California-based organization that hosts searches for missing persons cases. The first search party, held on Feb. 7, attracted more than 170 volunteers including off-duty officers from the Barstow Police Department. More than 260 people registered at the latest search party, according to Hurst’s mother Deborah Welch, and attendees included Mayor Joe Gomez and Det. Keith Libby, who is the lead investigator for the Barstow Police case. (Read more...)

Several Barstow City employees, concerned citizens and Leisa Hurst family members joined Trinity Search and Rescue on the search Feb. 21, 2009 covering a area near Oro Grande along the river bed, unsuccessfully found any evidence of Ms. Hurst.

Trinity Search and Rescue will head second search party

February 15, 2009 - 9:16 AM By CHARLES NGUYEN, staff writer

A search and recovery organization is taking over the Feb. 21 volunteer search for Leisa Hurst, a Barstow single mother who has been missing since January. Trinity Search and Recovery will offer specialized equipment to the search party and also manage it through an on-site command post, founder and President Mike Melson said. The search will take place in the same Helendale area as the search held on Feb. 7. The volunteer organization and Debra Walsh, Hursts mother, were connected through the Kristen Foundation, a North Carolina-based group that focuses on providing aid to families of missing people, Melson said. The missing persons community is a small network, he said. We get to know each other quickly, no matter how far we are. The organization was founded in 2005 by Melson and his wife Bridget and has since helped about a dozen families throughout California, according to Melson. Melson said he hopes to bring specialized equipment to the next search, which includes aerial drones for a birds-eye view of the area and side-scan sonar, which maps underwater terrain for boats. Rain cut the four-hour search short on Feb. 7, which turned up no pieces of evidence related to Hurst's disappearance. However, the 175 volunteers that showed up managed to assemble a makeshift command post complete with dispatchers and call signs, Walsh said. Volunteers also used search vehicles and animals to comb areas muddied by rainfall. The weather put a damper on it but we were so grateful for the things the community was able to do and bring, Walsh said. Melson said he will try a similar setup for the Feb. 21 search. Volunteers will be organized into groups and briefed before they are sent out to search, where they will be able to radio into a communications station if anything is found, Melson said. They had a fantastic turnout for the first search and we already have 40 folks registered for the next one, he said. The most frustrating thing is when we can't stir up enough interest, but so many generous people have responded to this. There have been no recent developments in Hurst's case. Police still believe Jeami Chipaulis was somehow involved in her Jan. 22 disappearance but have not named him as a suspect. Chiapulis, a Helendale man, checked himself into the psychiatric ward of an unidentified hospital days after Hurst was reported missing and remains a patient there, according to Barstow Police Det. Keith Libby. Anyone who may have information regarding the case is asked to contact Det. Keith Libby at 760-256-2211. Anyone inquiring about the community search party is asked to leave information with Trinity Search and Rescue at http://www.trinitysearch.org/. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WE-TIP Web site at www.wetip.com.CONTACT THE WRITER:(760) 256-4126 or cnguyen@desertdispatch.com

Leisa Hurst. Missing Jan. 22, 2009 from the High Desert in San Bernardino County, Ca.

Hurst is a white female adult, 30 years old, and described at 5'6", 130 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes She was scheduled to attened a class at Victor Vally College in Victorville, Ca. It is unknown if she actually attended the class. On Jan. 23, 2009 Hurst's car was discovered in Hesperia abandoned in the area of Olive Street and Second Street. The orange Honda Element had its windows down and its key was still in the ignition. Police believe Hurst's cell phone was last used Jan. 22 at 11 p.m. in Hesperia after locating its signal near a cell tower on Mariposa Road.

Update:.Jeami Chiapulis, a Helendale Man has been arrested and charged with Leisa's suspected murder even though her body has not yet been found. Please say a Prayer for Leisa's Daughters, Family and Friends...