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Crews Searching For Missing Man In Moraine State Park

MUDDY CREEK TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A missing man's worried family kept vigil at Moraine State Park Friday as emergency crews continued a frantic search by air, water and land.

Crews have been searching at the Bear Run Boat Launch since about 11 a.m., but so far there have been no signs of 51-year-old Walter Powell of Gibsonia.

Powell is believed to have gone canoeing sometime after 7 p.m. Thursday.

A helicopter buzzed the shoreline of Lake Arthur Friday afteroon in the hopes of finding Powell. Meanwhile, boats searched every inch of the 32-hundred acres that make up Arthur Lake.

"We've done a complete aerial search and water search of the entire lake and shoreline," said Amy Marree, of Butler County Emergency Services. "We have not located any signs of the canoe or Mr. Powell at this time."

It's believed that Powell launched his red canoe sometime between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday. They believe he was hunting.

"Multiple people go out into the water, and raccoon hunting, and things of that nature on the shoreline," said Marree.

Powell's family became concerned when he didn't come home. So, on Friday morning, his son came down to the lake and discovered Powell's pickup truck with the canoe trailer still hitched to it.

The search has become desperate.

"The water temp right now is about 51 degrees, which is rather chilly. So we're hoping for the best. And that's where we are at this time," said Marree.

Powell's family is staying near the park while the search is ongoing. They were being kept at the ranger's station and away from the scene.

The search ended for the night around 6 p.m.

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