Rural Hager City man, 89, found alive after 3-day search

TRENTON TOWNSHIP -- A missing 89-year-old Pierce County man was found alive Monday after a search party scoured rough and hilly terrain for nearly three days.

Elmer Bang, Trenton Township, was airlifted to Regions Hospital after his discovery at 11:15 a.m. He sustained some mild bumps and bruises, and was dehydrated but was otherwise in "pretty good shape," according to Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove.

He was found by a group of family members about a mile from his 210th Avenue residence.

The discovery was a stunning, joyful end to the arduous search, said Bang’s granddaughter, Jennifer Murphy.

“It’s a happy ending – a lot happier than I thought,” she said about an hour after the search ended.

Bang went missing around 2 p.m. Saturday after he went to check on some cattle near the edge of his property. His cane and hat were found at the southeast corner of the property at the edge of a wood line, according to Pierce County authorities.

Family members suspected he became confused Saturday and lost his way back home.

Family members called the Pierce County Sheriff's Department around 6 p.m. Saturday, starting what would be a man hunt involving several nearby law enforcement agencies and about 200 volunteers.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, searchers used K-9 units, horseback riders and a helicopter equipped with thermal imaging equipment.

See Wednesday’s print edition for more on the story.

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