The search for a missing Yankton man along the Missouri River has narrowed considerably. Search teams from Bon Homme, Codington and Yankton counties are searching near the town of Running Water, which is along the Missouri River just over 100 miles from Sioux Falls.
That's where 46 year old Michael Larson launched his boat Friday afternoon.

The search is now focused on an area along the north shore of the river, about a mile and a half east of the boat launch. Since Friday, that area has been command central for search and rescue teams and the family. They thought today would be a good day, because for the first time in four days, the wind finally died down. But at the end of the day, they still didn't find anything because the current was so incredily strong.

After four days of searching, Bon Homme County Emergency Manager Jon Vavruska says he's tired. He says, "Usually we go from sun-up to sundown, and then we do a little office work, after we get back with that, just to catch up with a normal work-week, and we're back here again in the morning."

The day began with a big new discovery as crews scoured miles of shore line and dogs locked on to a scent more than once. Vavruska says, "We sent the dogs out again and they re-hit on the same spot this evening."

That triggered a call to a drive team but the search didn't last long.
Vavruska says, "When the diver went down, he was able to get to the bottom. But it pulled the weights up off the ground, and it pushed the boat over the top of the diver. So in fear of their safety, we pulled them off."

Jon called it discouraging, but when asked how he keeps going, he gives a simple answer. It's for the family. He says, "Tthey're down there every day from sunrise to sunset every day all of them have. You can see how close the victim was to them, how important he was to the family, even the extended family has been down there. All ages, kids up to grandparents, so you can see how important this is for them, that's why we want to find something for this family."

The family has asked for privacy as they wait and watch the search crews. Unfortunately, even if the divers get back in tomorrow, it will take time for them to find anything. That's because the water is so murky, they literally have to feel their way across the bottom.