Search is continuing for missing Elba man

By Carole Brand

Published: July 31, 2008

The search continues for Elba businessman Pete Cash as law enforcement officials report they are looking anywhere vehicles can possibly go, but some rumors are hindering the investigation.

“We’ve had people call from as far away as North Carolina and the rumors are rampant around the county,” according to an update Thursday morning from Coffee County Sheriff Chief Deputy Ronnie Whitworth.

“Sometimes people don’t realize that when they call, we have to go and check it out and it’s usually nothing. They can take police away from an important call that does mean something,” he said. “We’re having daily meetings and updates and we are assisting the Elba Police Department in anyway we can.”

Whitworth said the searches continue on the county and state highways, as well as on dirt roads, field roads and basically everywhere.”

The search is also continuing by air with the help of the Dale County Sheriff’s Department helicopter.

“This is definitely a proactive investigation,” Whitworth said. “Once, the Elba police reported Pete Cash missing, we concentrated on the search. Right now, we’ve got nothing showing up.”

Tracks that are made on out-of-the-way roads are also being searched.

“This morning (Thursday) we’re going out and looking again. I understand even some of the the Cash employees have been on the highways searching.”

Whitworth said the sheriff’s department, along with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Coffee County District Attorney’s office, are assisting Elba law enforcement.