Eighty two year old Guillermo B DeVenecia, who had gone missing from his residence on July 16th, was located alive today by volunteer searchers around 1 p.m. DeVenecia was found standing in a bean field near Whalen and Mutchler Roads in Fitchburg. Numerous volunteer search teams comprised of neighbors, family members and K-9 and horse search and rescue organizations resumed their persistent search for DeVenecia Saturday morning.
DeVenecia was found to be responsive but dehydrated and is now with family members. It is unclear how DeVenecia ended up in the field or if he had been continuing to walk in the area since going missing on the 16th.
Volunteers began contacting the Fitchburg Police Department to assist with search efforts not long after DeVenecia went missing on the 16th and yesterday a volunteer search group began searching the area near where DeVeneica was located today. Through the efforts of family members and neighbors, volunteer numbers continued to grow as people were connected by e-mail and social media.
In addition to the volunteers who assisted in locating DeVenecia, the Fitchburg Police Department was assisted by the Fitchburg Fire Department, Mounted Horse and K9 units from the City of Madison Police Department and the Air-One Helicopter from Rockford, Illinois.