[StBernard] Search Continues For Missing 12-Year-Old Girl

[Westley Annis]

Search Continues For Missing 12-Year-Old Girl

Louisiana Department Of Wildlife And Fisheries Release Names Of Boat
Operators

POSTED: 9:47 pm CDT July 17, 2011

UPDATED: 11:16 pm CDT July 17, 2011

SHELL BEACH BAYOU, La. -- Several agencies, including the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, are continuing
their search for a missing 12-year-old girl in Shell Beach Bayou in St.
Bernard Parish after she was involved in a boat crash.

The accident happened on Saturday

LDWF agents responded to a two-vessel collision involving a 20-foot boat
operated by Marion Funchess, 61, of Folsom, and a 15-foot boat operated by
Paul Battle, 48, of Mandeville.

Battle had four juvenile passengers on board including the missing girl.

Funchess had an adult passenger on board his boat.

All four children were thrown into the water. Three were recovered safely.

Battle was not ejected from the boat, but was taken to the hospital with
serious injuries.

Funchess and his passenger did not receive any major injuries.

LDWF, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and the St. Bernard, St. Tammany and
Plaquemines Parishes Sheriff's offices searched through the night and all
day Sunday for the missing girl.

The search agencies intend to resume full operations on Monday morning.

LDWF will be the lead investigating agency for this boating crash incident.

The missing girl was not wearing a personal flotation device when the
boating crash incident occurred.





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