The search for the Louisville woman who went missing in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been downsized.
“After two weeks and no new clues, Virgin Islands National Park will downscale the search effort for 48-year-old Lucy Schuhmann, who was first reported missing on September 19, 2019,” Virgin Islands National Park spokesman Thomas Kelley said. “During a staff briefing earlier today, the National Park Service Incident Commander Scott Guenther expressed his gratitude to all team members who participated in the effort. He also stated that the search should henceforth continue at the park but on a more limited basis.”
Across 14 days, Kelly said local and mainland National Parks personnel were assisted by the Virgin Islands Police Department, St. John Rescue, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Coast Guard, and volunteers who searched extensively and found little evidence of Schuhmann.
The search for Schuhmann was supported by a technical climbing team, drones, snorkel and SCUBA divers and search dogs. Marine deployment to rugged, remote shorelines for both ground and snorkel searches occurred over several days. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an aerial helicopter search early in the investigation. Ground teams searched several miles of park trails, shorelines and roadways, as well as densely forested areas.
Schuhmann was reported missing by the proprietor of the vacation rental where she was staying in Coral Bay on St. John. Her belongings were found in her room, and her rental Jeep was discovered parked in Virgin Islands National Park.
Each day of the search park staff were in close contact with Schuhmann’s family, as Kelly said a close family member of the missing woman arrived on St. John and regularly met with park staff and volunteers.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
