Weather again suspends search on Walnut Knob

Photo: The next search day will depend on the divers’ schedules

by Roger Mannon
Staff Writer

The continuation of the search for a missing woman was called off because of bad weather this week. Officials had planned to search a pond at Walnut Knob again for Letisha “Tish” Faust.
Faust has been missing since December 9. She was last seen at Floyd Pharmacy.
Her car was found New Year’s Eve near the pond on the Floyd/Franklin county line. Search dogs were used in the area, and one of Faust’s sandlas was found.
Divers initially used a robotic underwater camera to search the ice-covered pond. Last week, when some melting allowed a more extensive search of the pond,  eight state police divers spent all day Wednesday searching the pond in shifts.
“We got about three-fourths of the search completed,” said Lt. Stephen McGuire of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. “We covered all of the primary areas.
“We were planning to go back today (Tuesday), but weather didn’t permit. Also, more bad weather is forecast, so it is not certain when we’ll be able to resume the search.”
McGuire said the next search date depends on the divers’ schedules. “We have to coordinate it with their dive master.
“They are very busy. They have other searches and court appearances to deal with.”