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Authorities and search and rescue groups during the search for Stephen Courtney. (Photo provided by Blaine County Sheriff's Office)
A search and rescue organization from Oklahoma City found the body of Stephen Courtney on Saturday, Feb. 27
Ȧuthorities are waiting on official confirmation, but they believe the body was Courtney, who went missing on Feb. 13.
Following his disappearance, the vehicle Courtney had last been seen driving was found abandoned north of Watonga off of CR 780 near the bridge over the North Canadian River.
Search efforts by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Watonga Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and some Geary police officers began the day the vehicle was located.
The search had to be called off after six hours because of weather conditions as the temperatures reached extreme lows and near 12 inches of snow covered the ground.
In the following days, search efforts continued by all agencies involved.
On Saturday, Feb. 20, Christian Aid Ministries’ Rapid Response Service and Search and Rescue, an independent search and rescue team out of Oklahoma City, began its search efforts after Courtney’s sister Cindy Pitts reached out to them for help.
“We didn't do much searching on that day. We were going to, but there were still snow drifts about two feet deep. So we were like, ‘It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could be stepping on him for all we know,’” Coordinator for Rapid Response Service and Search and Rescue David Kornelsen said
Rapid Response Service was assisted by the Blaine County Sheriff’s office by working with a deputy sent out by Sheriff Travis Daugherty. Rapid Response Service was asked if they needed anything from the Sheriff’s office and told their help was available to them if needed.
On hearing that Rapid Response Service would be out near the river, Daugherty reached out to the Oklahoma Army Corps of Engineers to ask that the Canton Dam water release be temporarily shut off to make search efforts easier.
Search efforts in the river were not possible on Rapid Response Service’s first search because of the frozen conditions of the river and were scheduled to return on Feb. 27.
To combat this, Daugherty said the Sheriff’s Office conducted searches of the river and surrounding area by utilizing a drone during Courtney’s disappearance.
On the morning of Feb. 27, upon Rapid Response Service’s return, Kornelsen said they found Courtney’s body in about 30 minutes.
A deputy from the sheriff’s office was also there to assist by flying their drone; however, Courtney was found before the deputy could set up his drone.
Once the deputy on site had been alerted to the discovery of the body, officers arrived and conducted their investigation to confirm the cause of death.
Once the initial investigation was concluded, authorities waited for the Watonga Fire Department and Rapid Response Service and Search and Rescue to retrieve the body from the bottom of the river.
Confirmation for the body’s identity is still pending; however, it is believed to be the body of Courtney. The body has been transported to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner for further examination.
Pitts had expressed some frustration with the way her brother’s disappearance and search effort was handled by authorities and how she felt they had done nothing to help.
“We're sorry that they lost a loved one,” Daugherty said. “We understand that they're frustrated… We did everything we could to help find their brother.”
The sheriff’s office also put out a statement asking that people keep the family of Stephen Courtney in thoughts and prayers through the tough time and to pray for their healing.
“He was a good man and he helped a lot of people,” Pitts said. “May God rest his soul.”