Missing Calif. Teen Brothers: Duck-Hunting Weekend Excursion Disappearance
Two teenage brothers, Wesley Cornett, 17, and Andruw Cornett, 19, have been missing for over a week in Northern California after they went duck hunting in stormy weather on Dec. 14. The brothers embarked on their hunting trip at the Thermalito Afterbay, a large body of water in Butte County with 17 miles of shoreline and 4,300 surface acres of water.
Search Efforts and Rescue Operations
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office revealed that approximately 250 people from 21 different organizations have been tirelessly searching for Wesley and Andruw Cornett since they were reported missing. Search operations began promptly on the day the teenagers went missing, with multiple agencies including the SCSO deputies, detectives, the BCSO Aviation and Marine Unit, and BCSO Search and Rescue joining forces to locate the brothers.
Rescuers have been navigating through the challenging terrain of the Thermalito Afterbay, with Jeff Eggleson of Big Valley Divers highlighting the difficulties faced by the search party in accessing the weed-covered water where the boys were last seen. Despite the adverse weather conditions, search efforts have been extensive, covering thousands of acres by boat, ground, and raft in the hopes of finding the missing teenagers.
Mother’s Heartfelt Plea and GoFundMe Campaign
The boys’ mother, April Clark, has been enduring a harrowing ordeal as she copes with the disappearance of her sons. In a poignant message shared on a GoFundMe page titled “Help April Clark Find and Honor Her Sons,” she recounted the tragic incident that led to Wesley and Andruw going missing. Wesley’s kayak overturned, prompting Andruw to bravely swim out to his aid before they both disappeared from sight.
Clark’s heartfelt plea for support and donations to aid in the search efforts and eventual funeral arrangements for her sons has touched the hearts of many. Describing Andruw as a hero for his selfless act of trying to save his brother, she expressed the immense grief and shock that has befallen their family. The sheriff’s classification of the search as a “recovery” mission has added to the emotional turmoil faced by Clark and her daughters as they grapple with the devastating loss.
As the community rallies together to assist in the search and offer solace to the grieving family, the resilience and unity displayed in the face of tragedy serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of compassion and support that binds us all in times of adversity.