River Search for Missing Man Still on Hold Eight Days Later
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Updated: 8:54 PM Mar 25, 2010
River Search for Missing Man Still on Hold Eight Days Later
Eight days later, a comprehensive search for Jerry Lambert is still on hold.
Posted: 10:23 PM Mar 19, 2010
Reporter: Tim Irr; Steve Eschleman
Email Address: tim.irr@wsaz.com; steve.eschleman@wsaz.com
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UPDATE: 3/25/10
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Jerry Lambert has been missing for eight days.

His family is afraid he may have fallen off a boat dock at Huntington's Harris Riverfront Park into the Ohio River.

High water has hindered the search, and even now that the river is starting to recede a water search is still too dangerous.

There are still more questions than answers about what happened to Lambert. He was spending the night with his brother, Hobie, on his boat Wednesday, March 17.

"The only thing we can come up with is, he does get up and down during the night," ex-wife Kim Lambert said. "Maybe he went out to use the bathroom and the way the river was and the wind he could have fallen off."

Jerry's brother said Jerry must have gotten up while he was asleep.

The water has lowered in eight days, but it is still too dangerous to do a thorough search the of the river. Underwater cameras and riverbank searches have not given any clues.

"When you're looking at the river and it's 10 feet higher than what it is now, fast moving water, and the amount of debris -- time is critical," Huntington Fire Chief Creig Moore said. "That was the time to launch a successful rescue operation."

Lambert wasn't reported as a missing person for almost 18 hours after his last cell phone call. Which, his ex-wife said, is not a good thing.

"if he would call, we'd come and get him that's why his brother didn't worry and he went on home," she said. "He had a doctors appointment so I didn't worry too much."

Dock Owner David Duffield says the dock does have security cameras, but they were disabled that night because of a power outage.

There were no other witnesses and there is still confusion as to when the family realized he was missing.

Lambert's ex-wife says there is no way he would have staged this disappearance.

Fire Chief Moore says the river will be monitored daily and once it's safe, he'll order a more exhaustive search.

ORIGINAL STORY: 3/18/10
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A family is fearing the worse after a man disappeared from the Huntington riverfront Wednesday night.

Family members they last heard from Jerry Lambert around 9 p.m. Wednesday when he called his girlfriend. He was calling from the boat dock at Holderby's Landing.

At the time, Lambert was working on a boat docked there with his brother. His family reported him missing Thursday.

Lambert's family says it's not like him to leave without telling anyone. Calls to his cell phone go straight to voice mail.

The boat dock has surveillance cameras, but a power failure at the time prevented them from working.

Lambert is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. His family says he was wearing jeans, boots and a long sleeve T-shirt when he disappeared. He has several Marine Corps tattoos on his arms.

Police say they have not been able to launch a boat to search for Lambert because of the high water and dangerous currents on the river.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 11, 2010 at 12:12 AM

thank you to everyone who helped search today , although it was still unsuccessful. its really wonderful to know that so many people are willing to help and care so much. we still have hope that we will find him. we are not giving up ever. he is constantly in our hearts and minds, every morning night in our dreams. this will never go away. any news of any more searches we will post so anyone who wants to join can. again thank you for love concern and prayers. we will find him.
Posted by: ????? on Apr 10, 2010 at 02:23 PM

They are out searching today, by land, water and air but yet can't find an update on here anywhere???? Can someone please find out what's going on and report to the public?????? Forget the newspaper, they did a horrible job of reporting, I think the only fact they got right was that he is missing!!!!!! Where are you Tim Irr???? This family deserves to get his story out there!!!! Please help!! Update!!!!!
Posted by: B on Apr 9, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Kim so sorry for you and Maddie. This is just heartbreaking
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