Team from Manatee County was part of Nadia search

Post date: Aug 20, 2010 3:43:14 PM

Posted: April 13, 2010 01:11 PM

Updated: April 13, 2010 01:11 PM

WINTER SPRINGS - A search and rescue team from Manatee County was a part of the search for Nadia Bloom.

Capt. Larry Leinhauser spent the weekend looking for the little girl. He says he was very worried, because if you don't find someone in the first 24 hours there is less than a 1% chance you'll find them alive.

He is one of 14 people on Manatee County's renowned team that specializes in search and rescue in very remote, wild areas. They have been involved in searches for people like Jessica Lunsford, Sara Lundy, Susan Fast and many others.

Leinhauser says they went into a deeply wooded, swampy area looking for any signs of fresh movement of earth, bushes pushed back and any articles she might have left behind.

He says Nadia was believed to have candy with her, so they were looking for candy wrappers or any sign that the little girl had passed thru that area or might still be trapped there.

"We basically we were in heavy brush, real thick woods and marsh land and bodies of water…basically, the lakes were being swept by divers from the sheriff's office and other agencies. Police had helicopters up in the air. Amphibious track machines we had everything out there," says Leinhauser.

This is a joyful day for this search and rescue team. Leinshauser says she's been missing since Friday. After 3 days dehydration sets in, and if she wasn't getting liquid she couldn't have lasted much longer.