CLC law enforcement students search for missing man

As the sun shined and the wind blew Monday around the Buffalo Hills Trail in Brainerd, questions of what might lie among the woods would soon be answered.

About a dozen Central Lakes College (CLC) criminal justice students, along with their instructor Gae Davis, looked high and low, under leaves and around trees wrapping around the trail in Brainerd looking for Marc Welzant.

Welzant was last seen about 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2014, by staff at the group home where he lived on the 1100 block of Beech Street in Brainerd. Store security video showed Welzant was at the Holiday Stationstore, 424 S. Sixth St., Brainerd about 2:50 p.m. on the day he went missing.

The students walked about a half-mile down the trail from Bell Rae Circle and traveled northwest toward the Mississippi River and back. By the end of the search, there was no sign of Welzant or any of his belongings.

The students walked at times in a horizontal line, opposite of the trail, searching for any object they could find. They found several plastic bags.

Davis would yell out, "Spread out more," or "Look on the ground," as the students searched.

Davis said this is the first time she has hosted a hands-on search. She said during Christmas break she decided to conduct a search for two reasons: to give the students experience in a search mission and to help bring Welzant home to his family.

"I feel for the family," Davis said. "I have a sister a few years older than Marc, who also is disabled. ... I couldn't imagine what the family is going through. Anyway the community college can assist the family and cooperate with the Brainerd Police Department it is a good thing.

"The students are learning practical skills in a real-life situation ... and we are hoping to find closure for the family."

Central Lakes College student Raychel Raddatz, who will graduate this spring from the criminal justice program, said the students spent about two-and-half to three hours researching the case and looking at where they should conduct their search for Welzant. She said they went over all the facts, such as where the police dogs picked up Welzant's scent and where he could have gone after he was last spotted.
"We determined Buffalo Hills Trail would be a good place to look," Raddatz said.

Earlier in the search, Raddatz said, "I hope to find him. I've never had a missing person in my family and I know the family would like closure."

First-year criminal justice student Bren Fletcher said some of the skills she utilized in the search include identification skills, how to be precise in a search and keeping her eyes open.

"If we find something we have to call Gae to help," Fletcher said.

Davis said the area where CLC students searched was not an area that was searched a lot since Welzant went missing. The trail leads to Kiwanis Park, an area where hundreds of volunteers helped search for Welzant just days after he went missing.

Welzant's family was also at the search and were grateful to the students. Welzant is one of 11 siblings. Brother Dave Welzant and four sisters - Mary Peterson, Jane Long, Judy Lura and Sue Kleman - and their three brothers-in-law also searched the trail and found nothing.

The family said they feel their brother, who has been missing for nearly six months, is no longer with them anymore. They would like Welzant to be found to have closure, but at the same time they are praying for a miracle.

"We hope he is alive," Long said. "But why would someone take him. He isn't a child or woman. We don't believe someone took him against his will."

Peterson noted bodies of missing people have been found throughout the state the past few months, but Welzant has not yet been found.

"I don't think he left Brainerd," Peterson said. "Why would someone want him? I don't believe he went with someone he didn't know. We need to find him. It's scary. If anyone saw him that day at Holiday please call the police."

Shortly after his disappearance, police received reports Welzant was possibly seen in downtown Brainerd, Oak Street and the Holiday Stationstore before possibly traveling to Kiwanis Park.

Brainerd police have conducted several K-9 searches, an aerial search and other ground searches along portions of the Mississippi River since Welzant went missing, but there have been no signs of the Brainerd man.

More than 100 people and law enforcement participated in an organized search for Welzant Oct. 30, 2014, in the areas of Kiwanis Park to the Buster Dog Park, back by the Buffalo Hills Trail, behind the Brainerd water plant, as well as the woods between the Mississippi River and Central Lakes College. Searches were conducted along both sides of the river in the wooded and brushy terrain. Nothing was found.

Brainerd police said Monday they have no new leads on the case.

The family, along with police, are planning another search for Welzant on April 25. Anyone interested in helping with the search should meet at Kiwanis Park about 9:30 a.m.

The family still has a $10,000 reward up for information leading to Welzant's whereabouts.

Welzant is described as a white male, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark sweat pants, a dark green jacket and tennis shoes. Welzant weighs anywhere from 160 to 200 pounds and has a pear-shaped body appearance.

Welzant's family describes him as walking with a slight limp.

Anyone with information on Welzant's whereabouts is asked to call the Brainerd Police Department at 829-2805.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl .