This past weekend, we were called to Fish Lake in Rusk County to assist in the search for 19-year-old Stanley Lang. Stanley had been missing since Saturday evening May 9th, after reports of a possible drowning.
On Monday morning, I received a call from a family friend, David Skaw, asking if we could help bring Stanley home. After a quick brief from the Wisconsin DNR, Bob Carpenter and I packed the gear and made the two-hour drive north.
Importance of Local Knowledge
In this work, technical tools are only as good as the information that guides them. Before we launched, I requested to speak directly with the local witnesses who lived on the lake and had seen the incident unfold. In many of our previous searches, speaking directly with witnesses has been a key factor in quickly locating victims.
The witnesses met us at the landing with a map and the location where they believed the incident occurred. Given that it was dark when Stanley went missing, their perspective was invaluable. We marked their coordinates on our sonar map and began “mowing the lawn” to ensure total coverage of the area.
Technical Precision and Recovery
Within 15 minutes of deploying the equipment, we identified a sonar image in approximately 25 feet of water that appeared to be our target. We marked the spot with a buoy and immediately notified the DNR warden on-site.
To confirm the find without disturbing the site, the DNR deployed their ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). Once verified, the Chetek Dive Team was called in to complete the recovery.
Moving Toward the Next Stage
The recovery of a 19-year-old is a heavy task, but it is one that has to be done. Our goal is always to provide the precision needed so that a family isn’t left wondering. By working seamlessly with the Wisconsin DNR, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chetek Dive Team, we were able to provide the Lang family with the answers they needed to move from the agony of the search to the next stage of grieving.
Please keep Stanley’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult road ahead.
Acknowledgements
I want to extend a sincere thank you to:
- Bob Carpenter for heading out with me and assisting throughout the day.
- David Skaw for reaching out to coordinate our involvement.
- The local witnesses, whose clarity and willingness to help put us in the right location.
