Volunteers from North Carolina traveled to Nodaway County to assist local authorities in the continuing search for local missing man Branson Perry this weekend.

The group included the Community United Effort (CUE) Center for Missing Persons of Wilmington, N.C., Sgt. Sheldon Lyon with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

“An area was looked at with the help of a group from North Carolina that specializes with search dogs,” Lyon said. “These dogs searched an area in western Nodaway County.”

Beyond that however, the Missouri State Highway Patrol doesn’t disclose the details of ongoing investigations, Lyon said.

Branson Perry went missing from his father’s home in Skidmore on April 11, 2001. Twenty years old at the time, Perry was cleaning the house with a friend when he took some jumper cables to his father’s shed. He hasn’t been seen since.

Neither the Missouri State Highway Patrol or Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department have been able to close the case.

“This is really unfortunate situation. A young man has been missing for so long. His family just has no closure on this at all,” Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said. “The really sad part about it is, is as time passes it just becomes more and more difficult to resolve it.

“Here we are, all these years later, still searching.”

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (816) 387-2345

10/04/08

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – If you know something, say something. That’s the message from local parents at a fundraiser for murdered and missing children.

Dozens joined together in Kansas City Saturday afternoon for the 65-mile benefit ride and poker run.

Organizers say the third annual ride drew the biggest crowd yet.

Parents welcomed the support but say nothing can take away their pain.

“In a way every day is a bad day because you just want to make up one day and not miss them so much and that’s never going to happen,” said Misty Kirwan.

Misty’s son, 21-year-old Chris Bartholomew, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Westport last spring. But he wasn’t the target.

“His killers are still walking the streets and nobody’s talking,” she said.

Becky Klino hasn’t seen her son for seven and a half years. Branson Perry was last seen outside his father’s home in Skidmore, Missouri.

“Branson had a heart of gold,” said Becky.

Knowing Branson could be alive keeps Becky going.

“Chances are real slim and that’s the hardest thing, but you have to keep believing.”

Branson’s stepfather drives a special van everyday. It has a picture of his son on one side and Chris Bartholomew on the other.

It keeps their faces fresh in the public eye. It’s also a reminder that a senseless crime can happen to anyone.

“You don’t know what’s behind somebody’s face. You don’t know what’s going to happen when you drive down the street. And it’s scary,” said Becky.

Branson Perry reward recently doubled to $20,000. Chris Bartholomew’s reward is $30,000.