This is the Banks County GA Bloodhound Team’s second find in just over a week. Corporal Josh Pressley, a Scent Evidence K9 Master Handler, along with his K9 Becka, located a 49-year-old man who had been missing for three days.
Missing person reported
On October 21, 2024, Corporal Pressley and K9 Becka were contacted by investigators working on a missing person case in Banks County. The man had physical, medical, and possible psychological disabilities. No one had heard from him in three days. From the evidence, it appeared the missing man may have walked into the wooded area behind his residence on Friday, October 18.
Banks County Sheriff’s Department stated that Corporal Pressley responded to the scene and collected odor from the subject’s bedding using a SEK9 Scent Kit and the absorption method.
Becka picks up the scent
Wonder Dog Becka went into the backyard of the residence. She picked up the scent, which resulted in Becka pushing through to a trail that led into an overgrown area. The report states that Becka trailed past a shoe and two vapes and continued into an area overgrown with kudzu.
The scent was strong, and Becka kept on the path that appeared to have been pushed down. She passed a single dollar bill lying in the kudzu and a red t-shirt. K9 Becka pulled through briars so dense that they had to crawl approximately 50 yards into more open woods.
The trail led down the hill toward a large creek. Becka continued along the bank of the creek, occasionally pulling into the water.
Following the water for about a half mile, Becka weaved in and out of brush and water for approximately 2 miles. After a short break, Becka was taken back to the residence to regain the scent and start again.
Becka locates the missing man
Becka was placed further downhill to the right of the original trail to check the immediate area more thoroughly and attempt to pick up on any trails leading back upstream on the far side of the creek.
K9 Becka suddenly changed her behavior and began trailing downhill towards the creek. She pulled hard down the hill for about 200 yards and located the missing man lying beside the creek. The man was able to sit up as they approached. With her tail wagging, K9 Becka sat beside the man who had been missing.
EMS were notified and family members were able to reach the scene with an ATV for extraction. The report states the man was found covered from head to toe in scratches with visible injury to multiple parts of the body and appeared to be dehydrated and hypothermic. He did not know how many nights he had been in the woods. Temperatures overnight from Friday through Sunday were in the high 30s-low 40’s.
For a reward, K9 Becka was given excited praise and dog treats.
Rare partnership between a Banks County Sheriff’s Officer and his K9
