Drones continue to protect county, help with missing person cases

LANSING — Although drones have made worldwide news coverage for their preeminent battlefield dominance, aerial reconnaissance has also impacted Ashe County public safety, most prominently in missing person cases.

The Ashe County Rescue Squad and sheriff’s office recently utilized thermal drones to search for a missing Lansing man who disappeared near his home Aug. 16.

According to the rescue squad, search teams have spent 11.45 hours of drone flight time, scanning 689 acres, looking for 63-year-old Steven Wayne LeCount.

Ashe Sheriff Phil Howell previously said they have investigated 132 missing person cases since January 2023. Fortunately, 129 of those individuals were quickly found. The sheriff’s office has two active missing person cases, including LeCount.

Earlier this year, the sheriff’s office secured two drones — one with thermal optics — to improve rescue operations. Howell said his office was enjoying a 98% success rate before the LeCount’s case, which remains an open and ongoing investigation.

Howell said during a June interview that his office used asset forfeiture monies from investigations leading to convictions to purchase the drones.

The drones, which began scouting the county’s skies in February, were implemented in seven missing persons cases, including LeCount’s case.

Howell said the thermal drone previously located a missing juvenile before freezing nighttime temperatures set in.