No success yet in search for woman missing along Tallahatchie River in Union County

Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards reported no new results late Monday night, Jan. 4, in the search for 28-year-old Jessica Stacks. She was reported missing somewhere along the the Tallahatchie River late Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

Edwards said about 50 volunteers searched during the day over the weekend  using boats, ATVs, foot searchers, specially-equipped drones and a Mississippi Highway Patrol helicopter. Some night search was done as well.

Although searchers found footprints and some other evidence of where Stacks may have been, there was no sighting of her and high water prevented further tracking. The river bottom area is rough terrain, cut up with serpentine natural ditches, filled with brush. There are also deep man-made ditches dug to drain water from crop fields.

The search continued on a scaled-down basis Monday because fewer volunteers were available. Edwards said another boat search of the area was planned for Tuesday, Jan. 5, but that the water level was quickly going down and might be too shallow for a boat.

Stacks and companion Jerry Wayne Baggett were said to be floating down the river in a boat without a motor. They were said to have put the boat into the water from County Road 46 early Friday. Baggett told sheriff that Stacks got out of the boat with the intention of walking out of the river bottom. Much of the river bottom was flooded when Jessica Stacks is said to have left the boat. It was reported that Baggett continued down the river and was picked up later.

Officials were not alerted to the situation until about 10 p.m. Friday,  and began the search, some of which occurred in rain and near-freezing temperatures.

This Google Earth photo shows the Tallahatchie River running from lower right to upper left. County Road 46 crosses the river at lower right and Highway 30 at Etta is at upper left. The area where Stacks left the boat appears to be about halfway between the two roads.

More about the river bottom search: https://newalbanyunionco.com/missing-woman-update-search-with-thermal-imaging-drones-continues/