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Volunteers search  for woman’s remains

Faith Willison’s skull was found in a woods by a hunter last weekend.

Family and friends of Faith Willison help members of the Clark County Sheriff's department on Friday search an area near where her skull was found to see if more remains can be found.

Bill Lackey/Staff Photo Family and friends of Faith Willison help members of the Clark County Sheriff's department on Friday search an area near where her skull was found to see if more remains can be found.

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer 9:59 PM Friday, November 25, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — More than two dozen volunteers spent Friday methodically picking through a large corn field near I-70 as they continued to search for any clue that might lead to new information about Faith Willison’s death.

The skull of Willison, 56, who disappeared in June 2010, was found by a hunter last weekend about a half-mile from where her car was found abandoned near U.S. 40 in Harmony Twp.

Several of the volunteers, largely made up of Willison’s friends, family and past coworkers, said they felt it was their duty to help however possible.

“How could we not?” said Pat Athy, a relative of Willison. “The family has been struggling with this (disappearance).”

Volunteers fanned out into two groups to cover as much ground as possible during the search.

Volunteers walked between rows of faded, yellow corn stalks and searched on their hands and knees through a thin layer of dead leaves and tree branches.

Occasionally, a member of the group called out to detectives who were assisting with the search, and marked what they found with a small orange flag.

Authorities said about 10 small bones were found during the search. It wasn’t clear whether they were animal or human bones. The numerous rows of corn made the search difficult, and authorities said they may have more luck once the field is harvested.

The evidence will be evaluated by medical professionals next week. Along with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, David Rader, a coordinator with Texas EquuSearch assisted in organizing the search. The organization specializes in searching for lost or missing persons.

Willison’s niece, Heather Herier, said her aunt was a kind, hardworking person and her family simply wants to find some closure in the case. How Willison died is not known, but authorities said the skull did not indicate foul play.

Herier said she was pleased to see how many friends and family members gave their time to help.

“I’m happy that on three days notice we were able to get so many people together,” she said.

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