PRESS RELEASE: Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office–– The Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team have already contributed approximately 600 man hours searching for James Alvin Shifflett. The search team will be out again Saturday. They will establish a command center at Broadus Wood Elementary School, located at 185 Buck Mountain Rroad , at 8am Saturday.
The 69-year-old disappeared from his home in the 4100 block of Earlysville Road the night of Wednesday, Dec. 7. His red and white Ford F-150 was found abandoned on a bridge over the Rivanna Reservoir a few miles from his home. The headlights were on and the keys removed. Police were notified of the abandoned vehicle at 8:06 pm.
Previous searches around the South Fork of the Rivanna River and reservoir have been unsuccessful.
"Due an investigative lead, there is a 350-acre farm the police would like for us to search on Saturday," said Albemarle County Sheriff Chip Harding. However he said, “ It is still most probably he is in the reservoir or downstream in the Rivanna River”.
While authorities are not disclosing the location of the farm at this time, they do say Shifflett worked there. The search team will set up a command post at Broadus Wood Elementary School before combing the farm with searchers and cadaver dogs.
"We have the largest volunteer reserve division in Virginia," Sheriff Harding commented. "We have 50 reservists that are trained in search and rescue, then we have another 50-60 citizens that are not sworn deputies that have been trained in search and rescue. They will be out there assisting, too."
Shifflett is described as a white male with brown eyes and gray hair. He is approximately 5’2" tall and weighs around 148 pounds. Anyone who say his truck or knows any anything about his disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Albemarle County Police Department at 434-296-5807 or Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000.