WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The search continues for a man who disappeared from his home in Howell County on July 27.

Sheriff Mike Shannon told Ozark Radio News that law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders have been searching for weeks for 66-year-old Robert Huddleson, who was last seen Thursday, July 27. Since his disappearance, search crews have covered dozens of square miles attempting to find him:

“We’ve run over every inch of that forest out there that we can. There are still people going out while riding, looking around,” Shannon said.

“I do want to say thank you to everybody who has helped and assisted with looking for Mr. Huddleson. I want to thank the fire department who brought one of their guys out. He rapelled down into the sinks (sinkholes). They’re real deep sinks and just hard to get down in there.”

Sheriff Shannon says that the department is keeping their options open in the search effort. “Mr. Huddleson was seen putting out trash on that Thursday morning. He’s not been seen by anybody. We’re keeping our options open. You can’t get tunnel-vision on something like this and just totally assume, ‘well, he just has to be out there in the woods.’ You’ve got to keep your options open.”

With deer season starting September 15, Shannon says he hopes that some answers will be found in the woods. “If he is out in the woods, you’ve got deer hunters that are starting to get out scouting for deer stands. I’m hoping if he is out there, that maybe someone can run on to him and at least find him.”

Huddleson is described as 5’8″, weighing 130 lbs., with brown and blonde shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, and a beard.

If you see Huddleson, call your local law enforcement agency or call the Howell County Sheriff’s Office at 417-256-2544.