Cadaver dogs, divers join search for missing man

RUSK — Our news partners at KETK report that Heal Corp is assisting local authorities in the search for James David Blount, a 57-year-old man who has been missing since early December, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Blount was last seen Dec. 2 in Rusk. His vehicle was later found stopped on Highway 84 near the Neches River, close to the Cherokee and Anderson County line, Rusk police said. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said Heal Corp is now helping investigators verify locations that have already been searched and eliminate potential areas of interest.

“Heal Corp is helping with the David Blount case,” Dickson said. “We are using them to verify that he’s not places and check off some properties.”

Dickson said Heal Corp is also assisting with additional searches of the Neches River after an earlier search was conducted.

“The Sunday before last we did a search in the Neches River and they were going to help us go over it again,” he said.

Heal Corp posted online Tuesday requesting assistance from certified cadaver dog handlers and said it is working with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at the agency’s request.

In a later update, Heal Corp said divers and K-9 handlers are already in the area and asked the public to avoid interfering with search efforts.

Authorities describe Blount as a white man who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Blount’s location. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Rusk Police Department at 903-683-2677.