The Alaska State Troopers on Monday suspended the official search for an Anchorage man missing for nearly a week.
According to troopers, the search for Kevin Mitchell, 38, was suspended at 3:30 p.m. Searchers scoured an area just south of Girdwood for three days after Mitchell's truck was discovered near the Seward Highway over the weekend.
"More than a hundred volunteers, in addition to a number of trained search and rescue volunteer groups, have dedicated time and effort into searching for Mitchell," troopers wrote in an online dispatch late Monday afternoon.
According to troopers, weather conditions have been poor throughout the entirety of the search efforts and were only expected to worsen. Troopers said "no signs" of Mitchell have been found since the search began.
Mitchell was last seen Tuesday, Sept. 22 around 11:30 a.m. when he left his South Anchorage home, leaving his wallet and ID behind, according to his wife. His truck was found parked on a trail near Mile 87.5 of the Seward Highway Saturday.
Troopers, wildlife troopers, the Anchorage Police Department, U.S. Forest Service officials, rangers with Alaska State Parks and Alaska Railroad police all responded and assisted in search efforts, along with many volunteers. On Sunday, about 150 people signed up to comb the steep terrain along Turnagain Arm.
Troopers called the level of community support "extraordinary."
The 'Find Kevin Mitchell' Facebook page released a statement regarding further search efforts Monday evening: "Although the official search is ending, we would appreciate everyone to keep an eye out. He might have walked along the railroad tracks or highway to a different hiking location. He might have been picked up hitchhiking or found alternate means to leave the general search area. We are unsure."