The search for a man wanted in connection with a violent abduction has gone cold as officers were unable to capture 23-year-old Brian Adkison overnight.
The search area expanded Monday afternoon to include southern Morgan County and the Lake of the Ozarks itself as witnesses may have seen him in a boat. Police in Camden and Morgan Counties followed up on a lead received pertaining to the whereabouts of Brian Adkison, causing authorities to believe Adkison was aboard a red and black boat near Ivy Bend.
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office reported receiving a call about an abandoned personal watercraft thought stolen by Adkison at the 58 mile marker of the Lake of the Ozarks. Police responded to the scene, set up a perimeter and vehicle checkpoints and searched through homes, but were unable to locate Adkison. Witnesses said they saw a man matching the description of Adkison fleeing the area on foot.
Earlier Monday, officers located an abandoned maroon Ford F-150 believed to be driven by Adkison at 104 Crestview Dr. off Shawnee View and Route TT. A warrant has been issued for Adkison in the kidnapping of MU student Lauren Crawford in Caldwell County.
After discovering the abandoned truck, K-9 units were brought in for a foot pursuit of Adkison. The pursuit started as a vehicle chase at private airport off Route TT. Authorities placed stop sticks in an attempt to apprehend Adkison, but were unsuccessful at immobilizing the truck before it was abandoned.
Dogs traced Adkison to Hickory Hollow Road near the intersection of Routes TT and MM when they lost the trail. Police then searched several houses — mostly vacation homes — in that area looking for Adkison.
23-year-old Crawford was last seen shortly before noon Saturday walking her dog when she disappeared. An endangered person notice was activated out of Caldwell County, which is northeast of Kansas City. Crawford was dropped off at University Hospital in Columbia in the early Sunday morning hours. She had sustained multiple injuries, presumably at the hands of her captor.
Authorities believe Adkison may be hiding along the shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and jean shorts. Officers believe he is ARMED and DANGEROUS. If you see Adkison or know of his whereabouts, call 911 immediately.
Courtesy of Lake News Online.
