Deputy Who Found Missing Illinois Man Says Search Was A ‘Team Effort’

PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Prentiss County Sheriff’s Deputy, who found a missing 70 year old man in the woods earlier this week says he was just doing his job when he tried to calm the senior citizen until medical personnel arrived on scene.

Monday morning,  Deputy Joey Clark, along with law enforcement from various agencies, were searching for 70 year old Lonnie Hopkins.

Mr. Hopkins, who is from Illinois, told his family he was going on a fishing trip. However, his empty car was spotted in a rural part of Prentiss County Sunday.

Search crews, , including a National Guard chopper, scoured the area.  Deputy Clark says he was walking in a heavily wooded area off of County Road 3421, when he saw Mr Hopkins on the ground.

“He was cold, partially clothed, so at that time began to put clothes on him, laid down beside him, tried to get him warm, after a few minutes everybody found me,  it was a relief, seeing all the people show up, like the Calvary coming in,people I’ve never seen before, showing up from different search and rescue teams,” Deputy Clark said.

Hopkins was taken to NMMC in Tupelo. He passed away Monday evening, but Deputy Clark says he is thankful Hopkins was located. Deputy Clark also wanted to thank the following agencies for their help in the search; Prentiss County Constable, Prentiss County EMA, Corinth Fire Department, State Fire Marshal, Union County Search and Rescue, MEMA, Tupelo Fire Department, Oxford Fire Department, Task Force One, Pontotoc County Search and Rescue, and the National Guard.