UPDATE: Recovery efforts continue for missing woman

Posted By: Lauren Fabrizi
lfabrizi@klkntv.com

Recovery efforts continued Friday for 30-year-old Anwesha Dey, who went missing 12 days ago.

The United States Search Rescue Recovery Team, a volunteer group based out of Omaha, is assisting Lincoln Police. They searched for Dey along Antelope Creek in Union Plaza to Salt Creek near 40th and Superior Streets, wearing orange vests on ATVs with the help of canines.

“Additional man power, more eyes and the ability to get into difficult areas,” Mark Schendt of the team said. “We have the ability, we want to be able to help people.”

The ATV group concluded the search about 4 p.m. Friday. Dey’s body was not recovered. Members will continue to search Sunday.

Police believe the University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate student was trying to cross Antelope Creek near 22nd and S Streets the day she disappeared, when she lost her footing and fell into the water.

Both police and friends identified Dey in security video captured by a nearby business.

“The video shows her struggling in the water as she’s attempting to regain her footing and trying to get to the shore,” Chief Jim Peschong of the Lincoln Police Dept. said. “Although the water seemed to be moving too fast, and it appears as though it carried her away.”

Dey was last seen on Sunday, May 3, at a friend’s place near 23rd and S Streets, just up the road from the creek. She was headed to UNL’s campus downtown. It had been raining that night.

Police aren’t releasing the security video because it’s “very hard to watch.” It shows the creek had overflowed onto walkways. Authorities said because of the high water, Dey may not have realized it dropped off. They said she also does not know how to swim.

“We’ve also had some significant amounts of rain last Wednesday on May 6 and Thursday on May 7 which more than likely may have carried Ms. Dey’s body further down the stream,” Peschong said.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue and other agencies searched Antelope Creek up to the Platte River for several hours Wednesday with no luck.

Because of last week’s storms, Battalion Chief Eric Jones said there’s a lot of silt and debris build-up in the water making the search “almost impossible.” 

“We had tons of trees, erosion all around the banks, not only that, but when you have flooding in the city of Lincoln like that, you get vehicles, you get all kinds of trash, you rocks that are not normally there,” Mike Satorie of LFR’s Water Rescue Team said. “You get hazards that for us, because we can go in that water, but it’s pretty dirty water because it’s stirred up so much dirt and mud, that you can’t really see what’s in there and what you’re gonna hit.”

Dey is from India. She’d been studying biology sciences at UNL.

In a statement, vice chancellor for student affairs Juan Franco said: “This has been a trying week for many of us at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are deeply saddened by the recent information. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Ms. Dey’s family and friends as we continue to wait for answers.” 

Dey’s friend who last saw her before she went missing told Channel 8 Eyewitness News Wednesday she’s still trying to process the news.

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Posted By: KLKN Newsroom
8@klkntv.com

Press Release from Lincoln Police Department:

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, the Lincoln Police Department was contacted by a friend of 30 year old Anwesha Dey.  She had not seen or heard from Anwesha since 7:00 pm on Sunday. At that time, Anwesha was leaving a friend’s house, near N. 23rd & S Streets, walking to the downtown UNL campus.  Since notification of her disappearance, officers have been trying to locate Anwesha.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015, investigators received security footage from a local business showing a woman we believe to be Anwesha Dey.  She is seen attempting to cross Antelope Creek, just west of N. 22nd Street between R & S Streets at 7:37 pm on Sunday May 3, 2015.  There had been heavy rains in the area and the creek was flowing, south to north, rapidly. The water was observed over the concrete walkway which crosses the creek.  The woman walked north of the concrete walkway and then toward the moving water.  She subsequently fell into the creek. She appeared to struggle in the fast moving water in an attempt to gain her footing and tried to get out of the water.  However, the current was moving too fast and she as carried away.

Associates of Anwesha Dey have viewed The video and believe the person who fell into the water is Anwesha.  THe family also told investigators that Anwesha did not know how to swim.

Personnel from the Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Nebraska State Patrol Air Wing and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office have been involved in searching Antelope Creek and Salt Creek for Anwesha Dey’s body.

It should also be noted that Lincoln had significant amounts of rain on Wednesday evening, May 6th to Thursday, May 7th, which more than likely, may have carried Anwesha Dey’s body further downstream.

The police department is asking citizens who may have property that abuts Salt Creek from Antelope Creek to the Platte River to be watchful for Anwesha Dey’s body. She was last seen wearing an orange hooded jacket and blue jeans.  She was carrying a gray and orange backpack and a light blue umbrella.  If anything is located that could be related to the case, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or the local law enforcement agency.