July 29, 2023

MDIFW NEWS: K9 Gordon and Warden Pomerleau Locate Missing 15-Year-Old Boy

GRAFTON TOWNSHIP, Maine - K9 Gordon and Game Warden Preston Pomerleau located a missing 15-year-old boy who had gotten lost camping after he had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom while camping.

Nathan Beckman, age 15, of Scarsdale, NY, was on a backpacking trip on the Grafton Loop Trail in western Maine. The Grafton Loop Trail is a remote 38-mile loop trail that connects nine mountain peaks. Beckman was on a trip with Overland Summers, a Williamstown, Mass. Organization that specializes in youth outdoor adventure trips.

Beckman had gotten out of his tent at the Bull Brook Campsite to go to the restroom at approximately 3:15 yesterday morning. Trip Leaders had heard Beckman get out of his tent, then heard distant yelling. Trip leaders confirmed he had not returned to his tent and began searching for him, but were unable to locate him or get him to come back. When they could no longer hear him, they called 911 a little after 5:00 a.m. yesterday.

Game Wardens responded to the scene and began to conduct a search in the rugged terrain on the southern slopes of Old Speck Mountain and Slide Mountain. 15 game wardens responded, along with over 40 personnel from search and rescue teams from across the state. Responding organizations included Newry Fire Department, Mahoosuc Mountain Rescue Team, Franklin SAR, Wilderness Rescue Team, Maine SAR Dogs, Maine Mounted SAR, Southern Maine Law Dogs, Maine Forest Service, and Bethel Fire Department.

Wardens used ground teams and SAR K-9's to search trails, wooded areas, and stream beds throughout the search area. They also utilized two fixed wing aircraft, a helicopter, and a drone to search from the air. ATVs were used to transport search teams into the remote area.

At approximately, Game Warden Preston Pomerleau and his K-9 partner Gordon located a jacket and hiking boot where were believed to be lost by Nathan. They continued searching the area, and at about 3:10 PM, they heard distant yelling.

Upon investigating the source of the yelling, Warden Pomerleau located Nathan in the woods about 0.4 miles from the campsite. Nathan was still moving through the woods on the steep mountainside, attempting to find his way back to the campsite, eluding searchers and traveling back through areas already searched. Nathan was in good health and did not need medical attention. He was able to hike out with the assistance of search and rescue team members, and he was reunited with his group in Bethel at about 6:30 PM.

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