Volunteers turn up no evidence in search for missing mother

ORO GRANDE • An eight-hour search of areas in Oro Grande on Saturday turned up no pieces of evidence in the case of Leisa Hurst, a missing single mother from Barstow, but drew more than 260 volunteers, many who showed up with equipment and vehicles to support the search.

The search party was the second since Hurst was reported missing on Jan. 22 and the first to be led by Trinity Search and Recovery, a California-based organization that hosts searches for missing persons cases. The first search party, held on Feb. 7, attracted more than 170 volunteers including off-duty officers from the Barstow Police Department. More than 260 people registered at the latest search party, according to Hurst’s mother Deborah Welch, and attendees included Mayor Joe Gomez and Det. Keith Libby, who is the lead investigator for the Barstow Police case.

Trinity Search and Recovery provided specialized search equipment such as aerial drones — unmanned aircraft used for reconnaissance — said Welch. She added that Hurst’s family is planning another search in the near future with Trinity Search and Recovery but has not picked out a specific date.

“It felt more organized,” Welch said about the latest search. “It was excellent how many people responded and how we had access to equipment we never had before. We were able to cover more area because of that.”

Volunteers came a number of areas to help, she said, including San Diego, Orange County and Las Vegas.

Barstow Police detectives arrested Jeami Chiapulis, 36, on Feb. 13 and charged him with Hurst’s murder. Chiapulis, a Helendale resident and Hurst’s boyfriend, pleaded not guilty in a Barstow courthouse on Feb. 18.

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(760) 256-4126 or cnguyen@desertdispatch.com