Weekend search for missing woman planned

The three-year-long search for a woman who went missing from Newberry Springs continues this weekend.

Gloria Denton, the mother of the missing April Beth Pitzer, and a group of volunteers from across California, will search the desert area around Elephant Mountain near Interstate 15 outside of Barstow. The search will concentrate on an area where articles of Pitzer’s clothing were found. Denton said the search will include special equipment and spelunkers.

Detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and volunteers have searched desert areas around Barstow before and mine shafts near Ludlow hoping to turn up information about Pitzer.

According to reports, Pitzer, a mother of two, went missing on her way from Newberry Springs to Arkansas, where she was originally from. Pitzer was last seen in the vicinity of the 30000 block of Caspian Way in Newberry Springs.

Denton is looking for volunteers for this weekend’s search, search equipment and financial support. To help, call Denton at 479-705-0380.