New Search Date Announced in Corrie Anderson Case

March 31, 2009

Texas EquuSearch and the family of Corrie Anderson, a missing mother of three from Ashville, N.Y., held a joint press conference in Jamestown, N.Y. today to update the media on the case and to announce new search dates.

Corrie's mother, Vickie Acquisto, said that she initially had been discouraged when the search, which was originally scheduled to begin this weekend, was canceled, but that she has since realized that the decision was for the best.

"There is a reason for everything. Everything happens for a reason," Vickie said. "To see how it's all coming together now -- I'm really very thankful. Our hopes are that we will find Corrie. I would like to say I want to find her alive, but we have to have closure."

According to Tim Miller, founder and director of Texas EquuSearch, the search will now be held on April 18 and 19. The command center will be located at the Ashville Firemen's Training Grounds.

"We have cooperation from law enforcement," Miller said. "They have done a wonderful job. I went all over the areas that they searched yesterday and I had a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with them myself. We're going to go ahead and spread the search out a little bit farther. We've got some resources that we can bring to the table if needed. We've looked at some areas where we might possibly use sonar. We know law enforcement used sonar and divers also. We've got a small drone airplane that we might also be using on this search."

Miller said that his trip to New York was essential because he was able to drive around and familiarize himself with the area.

"We're doing a lot of mapping," Miller said. "We're going to do more mapping today. The snow kind of hurt us in some areas that we wanted to look at, but we are going to have another look at those today."

While he could not comment on any areas of interest, Miller did say that his group would do everything in their power to bring Corrie home.

"We are going to bring in every resource into Corrie's case that we would bring in for any high-profile case," Miller said. "I know this family loves Corrie just as much as Caylee Anthony's family [and] just as much as Natalee Holloway's family, and they deserve every resource we can bring to them."

Before bringing the press conference to a close, Miller reminded the media that this search was about bringing Corrie home and that it was not intended for entertainment.

"Unfortunately, the media usually cover only high-profile cases," Miller said. "The Nancy Grace's of the world allow people to turn these missing person cases into entertainment. I know firsthand, with my own daughter's disappearance, that this was not entertainment to me, and it's not entertainment to this family. I am asking every one of you with the media not to turn this into something that will sensationalize everything. Think about this family and have some compassion. I have no problem not doing another press conference ever again if this will turn into a media circus. We need you all, and we want you to work with us; let's not think just about the ratings. I know what this family is going through, and I am not going to let anyone turn this family into entertainment; that is a promise."

Anyone who previously signed up for the search effort and those with questions or an interest in volunteering is asked to contact Texas EquuSearch at corrie.search@texasequusearch.org.

Since 2000, EquuSearch has been successful in the recovery of over 300 individuals. Their services are offered at no charge to families of the missing and to law enforcement agencies. They are a 501(c)3 organization, staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by donations.

For more information on the search or to donate, please visit www.texasequusearch.org.

A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Corrie's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at (716) 665-3113.

Related Link:
Corrie Anderson Full Coverage

Photo Credits: Press Conference: Carla Lohr; Flyer: Corrie's family

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.