Search party to look Saturday for Vaughnsville man

VAUGHNSVILLE — Putnam County deputies and local volunteers plan to search wooded areas Saturday in hopes of finding a Vaughnsville man who has been missing for more than three weeks.Chase “Chip” Stephens, 41, was last seen walking on state Route 115, just south of Vaughnsville on May 2.The search will center on four or five wooded areas in the Vaughnsville and Rimer area, Putnam County Sheriff Jim Beutler said. The fact that they are searching wooded areas doesn't necessarily mean deputies believe he is deceased.“It would seem that if he was confused and had gone to another town someone would have noticed this by now,” Beutler said. “We haven't heard anything from anywhere even though we have contacted law enforcement in other counties.”Beutler said his office was contacted by local volunteers wanting to do a coordinated search of the wooded area.“We identified all the woods in the area last week and began contacting property owners,” Beutler said. Some of the landowners have already searched their own woods. Deputies have already searched along railroads and in open fields in the area. In addition, signs have been posted around the Lima area asking for information if anyone has seen Stephens.Beutler said his office contacts the family daily to see if they have found out anything new about Stephens disappearance. “My staff and I also meet daily to review what we know and talk about what we can do to find Stephens and what hasn't been done. We just don't have any clues to his whereabouts.Beutler said he was last seen by a postal worker and an elderly lady at 5:05 p.m. on May 2.“About 15-minutes later a load of hay overturned at state Route 115 and U.S. 30. I called the driver of that vehicle that had traveled down the road Stephens was last seen walking. He had not seen anyone walking at that time, so we don't know what happened to Stephens in that short period of time.”Beutler said they have enough volunteers to conduct Saturday's search. “But if anyone knows anything or remembers anything please call our office at 419-523-3208.”Stephens is 6 feet tall, weighs between 330 and 350 pounds, and has red hair.