Troubled

It was terrific news to hear today that the young man who went missing this past holiday weekend has been found. I cannot imagine the fear, stress, and hopelessness a situation like that puts on a family and friends, let alone the person himself, who must have been fighting to stay alive.

The search that was launched to find him was a success.
Thank God, and the authorities, for that.

As I read the news today, I could not help thinking about a young man who went missing in our area last December. Very different circumstances from this latest story, I know.

He was discovered four months later, by chance, deceased, quite close to where he was last seen.
I felt then, and still feel, somewhat troubled about the events and details of this man's demise.
When I hear the stories about young children gone missing, or the elderly who wander-off, or most anyone for that matter, it usually seems to include a relatively thorough hunt to find them or, at least, a reasonable explanation why a search is called-off or not launched in the first place. But, maybe that's just the world that I see and hear on the news.

I realize that each case is different, and that the young man found today was missing for entirely different reasons. But, something about John Picarello's story leaves me uneasy and sad.

Even though he went missing in the middle of the winter, I cannot imagine that a trained dog could not sniff-out his body, even in snow. I also would like to think that we, as a community, would have come together in some way to help, if called upon.  But, perhaps there were circumstances I am not aware of.  I remember the time when John Picarello first went missing. I knew he was missing because printed signs started to appear in some local businesses. Not much local talk.

I do not remember much, if any, local news coverage, nor do I remember a large-scale search for him.
All I know is that one day in late March this young person was found, long-dead, in a cemetery.
It was profoundly sad.

I pray for the soul of the deceased, and I send my best wishes to the family and friends who just found their missing loved one.

Steve R.
Copake