Man failed to pick up wife at airport
A 67-year-old Whitehorse man's whereabouts remain unknown despite a recent aerial search and a witness who reported seeing him about a week ago, the man's wife told the Star this morning.
Photo by Whitehorse Star
RIDING THE RAILS - Dave Layzell, seen with a young employee, speaks with a reporter at the Copper Belt Museum and Theme Park in Whitehorse earlier this year. A search is underway for the missing Layzell.
A 67-year-old Whitehorse man’s whereabouts remain unknown despite a recent aerial search and a witness who reported seeing him about a week ago, the man’s wife told the Star this morning.
David Layzell was reported missing by family members on Monday after he failed to pick up his wife, Jude, at the airport.
“He wouldn’t do that (normally),“ Jude said.
Layzell left Whitehorse on Aug. 13 in a green 2000 GMC Sierra Extended Cab pickup truck, the RCMP said Tuesday.
He was planning to travel to the Clear Creek Road area between Stewart Crossing and Dawson City. His Yukon licence plate is ATS 68.
His family’s golden Labrador, Brandy, is with him.
Jude said a miner has reported to police that he spoke with Layzell in the Clear Creek area about a week ago.
The miner said Layzell was planning to park his truck and explore a mining dredge in the area.
The miner told police he gave Layzell a copy of his business card and asked him to send him any photographs Layzell took of the dredge, Jude said.
An aerial search was conducted in the Clear Creek area Tuesday, said Jude, but no signs of Layzell were found.
Jude said her husband is an outdoorsman who knows about wilderness survival and bush skills. Having lived in Whitehorse for 20 years, he is also familiar with the region, she said.
“It’s just him and the dog,“ said Jude.
Layzell is not carrying a cell phone, although Jude said he would not get reception in the area he was travelling in even if he did have one.
Although Layzell has a heart condition, Jude said she does not believe his health is a factor since he has a defibulator in his chest. Any heart problems would get “zapped,“ she said.
The missing man is well-known in the insurance industry and played a pivotal role in helping develop the Copper Belt Museum and Theme Park in the Kopper King area.
Layzell is Caucasian, with hazel eyes, white hair and a white beard. He is approximately five feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 240 lbs.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen Layzell or the vehicle to contact the RCMP Dawson City or Whitehorse detachment at 667-5555.
John Hogan
Aug 28, 2008 at 5:45 pm
PRAYING FOR YOU DAVID, ONTARIO:(