Expanded efforts fail to uncover any clues

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

KEENE -- The search for a missing Keene man expanded Thursday into the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness Area.

But intensive efforts turned up not a single clue.

Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman David Winchell said no sign of Jeremy Quinn, 38, has been uncovered after three days of combing forests in Keene.

"Over 150 people searched the woods (Thursday) without finding Jeremy Quinn, evidence of his presence or clues to his whereabouts," Winchell said in a statement.

GRID SEARCH

The primary search focused on an area bounded by Route 73, Route 9N, Hurricane Road and Jackson Road in Keene.

"While searchers covered the whole primary search area, they focused considerable effort on two drainage areas, which were searched twice using Type 3 (grid) search techniques, searching from a different direction each time," Winchell said of the tactical approach.

"After three days of intensive searching, DEC forest rangers are confident that the efforts made over the past few days should have resulted in the location of a lost or injured person."

Forest rangers have concluded Quinn is not lost or injured in the primary search area.

The incident has been turned over to State Police as a missing-person investigation, Winchell said.

"Now, forest rangers will be assisting the State Police in the missing-person investigation."

TACTIC CHANGE

Today, rangers will lead six crews of volunteers from the local fire departments and community in roadside sweeps to search for any evidence that may suggest Quinn's whereabouts, Winchell said.