The search for 19 year old Brandon Swanson took to the air on Monday. A helicopter from the Minnesota State Patrol, searching for Swanson, flew over an area stretching from Porter, Minnesota, to Taunton. They were especially focusing on land surrounding the Yellow Medicine River.

Brandon Swanson's cousin, John Scharfe says, "Whether he dropped his phone, lost it and couldn't find it, and continued walking, we just don't know. Or if that's where something actually happened. But that's the extent of what we have to go by." Scharfe has helped lead a search group of friends and family members for each of the past 5 days. He says, "We are at this time just grasping at straws basically and hopeful."  John says the family along with search teams from three counties have covered 18 square miles near the river. They went at least 2 or 3 times over on foot, on ATV's, and in the water with dive teams.  Pointing to the river, Scharfe shows what they were looking out for.  He says, "Anything in the river with a ripple like that, that he could be underneath, anything like that."

Monday's helicopter search continued to follow the base of the Yellow Medicine River.  That's because when Brandon disappeared the river was about 2 feet higher, meaning now, there is a muddy area open for search. Scharfe says, "You're not looking for Brandon, you're looking for a shoe, his cell phone, his glasses, any indication that he's been there." Scharfe says the family isn't losing hope, in part because they haven't found any clues. But as the days go by, expectations shrink. Scharfe says, "The family just really wants to find him and get closure. That's really what it's about now." The family also really wants to thank everyone who has helped, but ask that landowners in the area keep looking in any unturned areas for signs of Brandon.