Not a trace

For more than a month, Denny Adams and his bloodhounds, Molly and Dru, have been scouring the rural Leader area in southern Cass County searching for Peter Achermann of rural Leader.

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To have found no trace of the 82-year-old man, who has been missing since July 24, is a little disconcerting for Adams, who has spent 29 years helping families search for lost loved ones with his Dakota Territory Search Dogs.

Peter Achermann

"I think it's awful strange," said Adams, who returned this week to his home in Conde, S.D., to wash his clothes and mow his lawn and is returning Friday to Leader to continue the search for Achermann. "We haven't recovered any items that have been dropped, discarded or anything like that. We have just checked so many times in the same places, trying to come up with anything at all.

"Usually by this time, we've recovered an item or two that's been dropped or lost or whatever. We have gone basically every direction from the car, and there's been absolutely nothing."

So far, Achermann's car, a 1995 Chevrolet station wagon, is the only piece of evidence recovered in the search. It was found stuck in a mud hole on a minimum maintenance road about 10 miles from his home the day after he was reported missing.

All searches for Achermann have started on the minimum maintenance road and spread out to rivers, swamps, woods and fields. Hundreds of volunteers, including family, friends, law enforcement, Minnesota National Guard members, the DNR, State Patrol and others have been involved.

Law enforcement doesn't believe foul play was involved in Achermann's disappearance, but can't rule the possibility out, said Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher. Criminal investigators have been assigned to the case.

"It remains a missing person investigation," Fisher said. "However, a missing person can be voluntary or involuntary."

Fisher said investigators continue to follow up on leads and other information.

Adams said he will continue the search until Achermann is found, however long it takes. He said there are several other areas identified to search when he gets back to Leader.

"We'll work it until we find Peter," he said.

With hunting seasons getting started, Achermann's family also wants hunters to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary and call the Cass County Sheriff's Department at (800) 450-2677 or (218) 547-1424 if they find anything.

Fisher said property owners also could help by checking their property, outbuildings and areas not frequented for any signs of Achermann.

The family will be hosting a benefit called "The Achermann Benefit for Pete's Sake," to raise money to help pay for Adams' costs and for more searches.

The benefit will be Oct. 24 at the Bear's Den in Leader. Desiree Greenwaldt, Achermann's daughter, said the time for the benefit has not been set.

"Things are starting to add up in the search for Dad," Greenwaldt said. "Any money will only go for the search for Dad. Any (money) left over will be set up in a foundation to help other families of missing persons."

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.