Authorities continued to search Thursday for an autistic man who went missing Sunday night in Burnett County.
Officials believe 25-year-old Keith Kennedy wandered off from Trade Lake Camp, near Grantsburg, Wis., when a counselor's back was turned to help another camper. Kennedy, who is medically fragile because of a kidney transplant, had gone more than four days Thursday without the anti-rejection drugs he needs to survive.
"Every search that comes back without him is fairly devastating to me and my husband because we really know that time is of the essence now," said Linda Kennedy, Keith's mother. "He needs to be found."
Kennedy was seen walking south on State Highway 87 about 8 p.m. Sunday, said Burnett County Sheriff Dean Roland, but he doesn't know if Kennedy caught a ride somewhere or he tried to return to camp.
As of Thursday, crews had searched miles of heavily wooded terrain in Polk and Burnett counties and were moving farther south. Roland said 500 volunteers helped with search efforts Wednesday and 300 on Thursday.
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Authorities are asking for more volunteers today. Volunteers can check in at the command post at Trade Lake Camp on State Highway 87 near Grantsburg. The search will resume at 7 a.m. and go until dark.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Burnett County Sheriff's Department at (715) 349-2121.
