Date: September 9, 2011
Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700
Contact: Media Contact Linda Friar, 305-242-7714
The search for park visitor, Jacob Olivier, in Everglades National Park has concluded with the park officially declaring the visitor missing and transferring the open file to other law enforcement authorities. After a week of searching in the park and investigating clues from the search and those provided by the public, Mr. Olivier's whereabouts remains unknown.
The search involved 45 staff from different agencies, 3 canine units, and 2 helicopters. NPS staff from law enforcement, fire and aviation operations, and researchers were joined by search teams from Miami-Dade Air Rescue, Florida Department of Corrections - Doral Canine Unit, Miramar Police Dept. Canine Unit , Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Urban Search and Rescue Canine Unit, and the NPS and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue South helicopters.
The search began on August 30 when rangers on routine patrols noticed a vehicle that had been parked at the Pine Glades lake area for a number of days and not moved. Rangers ran a vehicle check on the 1998 green ISUZU pickup with a Texas license tag and contacted the vehicle owner of record, Mr. Tracy Olivier, who identified the current operator of the vehicle as his son, Jacob Olivier, a 23 year old, white male from Spring Texas. Further investigation determined that Jacob Olivier had entered the park on August 24 through the main entrance station in Homestead at about 1 pm.
Willie Lopez, Pine Island District Ranger, served as the Incident Commander for the Search and Rescue operation. "The Civil Air Patrol, using triangulation technology from Mr. Olivier's cell phone contributed significantly to this search as it allowed rangers to narrow the search to within 11.5 miles from the vehicle, focusing the air, canine, and foot search on this area," said Lopez.
Park rangers coordinated removal of the vehicle with Mr. Tracy Olivier, who sent a towing company to remove the vehicle on September 6.
Anyone who believes they may have seen Mr. Olivier while visiting the park or have other information to his whereabouts is requested to contact the park dispatch at 305-242-7740.
