Search party for missing Barstow mother rained out

The crowd of volunteers that gathered in Helendale on Saturday to search for missing Barstow resident Leisa Hurst struggled with the rain, forcing Hurst’s family to postpone a full search for the single mother who went missing on Jan. 22.

About 175 people showed up for the search, trudging through mud and rain while searching areas around the Silver Lakes neighborhood for nearly four hours, said Debra Walsh, Hurst’s mother. The family called off the search at about 3 p.m. after heavier rains made it impossible, she said. Volunteers were not able to locate any evidence related to the case.

“A few people without four-wheel drive got stuck in puddles of water,” Walsh said. “We decided it was getting unsafe for people.”

A search and rescue team from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to search the area and surrounding locations this week, according to Barstow Police Det. Keith Libby.

Horses, ATVs and handheld radios were just some of the pieces of equipment and transportation that volunteers brought for the search, Libby said. Off-duty dispatchers from the BPD worked with volunteers to set up a makeshift “command post” in a motor home that they used to coordinate search efforts. Other off-duty BPD officers also were on hand during the search to offer assistance.

“Putting together the search this time will make it easier, safer and more efficient next time,” Libby said. “I was really impressed with the things the community brought and how we all were able to put together a system to utilize them. There’s nothing more valuable than manpower and that’s what we got from the community.”

Walsh said she plans to hold another search on Feb. 21 in the same area of Helendale Road at 8 a.m.

Volunteers came from a variety of areas, some as far as Nevada and Arizona, Walsh said.

“It felt wonderful to see so many concerned people come out from so many places,” Walsh said. “Some people didn’t know us or Leisa personally, but were concerned enough to come out. That was really touching.”

There have been no new developments in Hurst’s case, Libby said. Police still believe that Jeami Chiapulis, a 36-year-old Helendale resident who was romantically involved with Hurst, has further involvement with her disappearance.

“[Chiapulis] has exhibited suspicious characteristics and we don’t believe he has been truthful to investigators,” Libby said.

Chiapulis checked himself into the psychiatric ward of an unidentified hospital on Jan. 26 and remains a patient there, Libby said. Investigators have not named him a suspect.

Anyone who may have information regarding the case is asked to contact Det. Keith Libby at 760-256-2211. Anyone inquiring about the community search party is asked to contact Debra Walsh at 760-252-9006. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WE-TIP Web site at www.wetip.com.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4126 or
cnguyen@desertdispatch.com