Boy Scout, 12, Missing in State Park

Mar 19, 04:30 PM

Current Headlines: By KORY DODD

GREENSBORO ---- When asked about the missing member of his Boy Scout troop, Peter Pickard hung his head and looked at the floor.

"I'm sort of sad. Really sad, actually," said Peter, 12.

He doesn't know 12--year--old Michael Auberry well, but Peter was there Saturday when Michael disappeared.

About 10 Scouts and their three adult leaders of Troop 230 from Greensboro noticed Michael was missing after eating lunch together Saturday in Doughton Park, which is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park is in Alleghany County.

David Bauer, a parkway ranger, said Sunday that Michael stayed behind with an adult leader while the rest of the troop went for a hike Saturday "because apparently he wanted to sleep in." The troop members returned and ate lunch with Michael and the leader. Soon after, between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., they noticed Michael was missing from the camp, he said.

As of press time Sunday night, Michael had not been found.

Searchers late Saturday found part of Michael's mess kit less than a mile from the camp, he said.

"At this point we're looking at every possibility," Bauer said. "The most probable thing is that he walked away, went out in the woods and went to investigate."

He said he's not aware of Michael, a sixth--grader at Mendenhall Middle School, having any arguments or problems with the troop or his family.

As the last hour of light set on the rescuers searching Sunday for Michael, Peter Pickard and about 200 family, friends and well-- wishers packed Christ United Methodist Church to pray for the boy and his family.

Though he was new to Troop 230, "he was one of those kids when he came into the troop that I knew he was going to be an asset to the troop," said Burma Wilkins, an assistant scoutmaster.

"We're so thankful that he has a good head on his shoulders and he has good Scouting skills and most importantly, he has faith in God," said Anne Dooley, the church education director.

Peter and Michael's other troop members had faith Sunday he would be found.

"I really look forward to the day again where I can play with him outside doing whatever, basketball or something," said a boy who identified himself as Auberry's friend and troopmate . "And I pray his parents don't give up hope because I know he'll be found."

Michael's parents did not attend the service because they were helping in the search.

"We're really hopeful," his father, Kent Auberry, told the Winston--Salem Journal.

Kent Auberry cried while describing a spot searchers had found where it appeared someone had sat on a rock and drawn in the dirt with a stick.

He said his son, who has been a Scout for a year and has a first- -class rank, likes to camp but doesn't like the cold.

Debbie Hayes, Michael's mother, said her son was wearing a red heavy outercoat, an inner fleece coat, had gloves and a hat in a pocket, and was wearing a dark blue Tar Heels baseball cap.

Bauer said searchers would streamline their search using trails and fire roads Sunday night because of the danger involved in searching the more rugged areas in the dark. They'll continue the broader search at daylight today.

Temperatures were expected to drop into the 20s for a second straight night Sunday but rise to the upper 50s today.

Search crews included volunteer firefighters, National Park Service staff and rescue squads from the state park system and Alleghany and Wilkes counties.

A Highway Patrol helicopter equipped with an infrared sensor that can detect body heat was sent to assist the search.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Kory Dodd at 883--4422, Ext. 241, or kdodd@news-- record.com

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