12 hours ago
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office suspends search for 10-year-old swimmer
UPDATE (6/18 4:50 p.m.): The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has decided to conclude the active search operations for 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger Wednesday, June 18.
The sheriff's office spent six days searching for Trinity, who was last seen in the water near the Destin East Pass at 7:30 p.m. on June 12.
'Our hearts are heavy, and this is not the outcome anyone hoped for,' said Sheriff Eric Aden. 'We are deeply grateful to every agency, volunteer, and community member who gave their all in this search. Our thoughts and prayers are with Trinity's family during this unimaginable time.'
Multiple agencies and volunteers searched 250 square miles — searching from Choctawhatchee Bay, the East Pass and several miles into the Gulf, according to officials.
Organizations that helped in the search efforts included Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, United States Coast Guard, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Florida Helicopter Patrol, Destin Fire Department, North Bay Fire Department and the United Cajun Navy.
Some of the above mentioned organizations will continue their search efforts on Thursday, June 19.
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DESTIN, Fla. (WKRG) — Search efforts continued Monday to find 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger.
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'We're doing everything we can to bring closure to the family,' Brian Parkton, Lieutenant over the Special Operations Division for the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies say Eslinger, who is from Arkansas, was last seen swimming between O'steen Access and Norriego Point in Destin Thursday night.
A number of agencies are assisting in the search both in the water and in the air.
'Us, along with FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation), a search and rescue team from Daphne has come over and participated as well and FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) has provided a fixed wing aircraft and drones,' Parkton said.
Parkton said they've continued to expand the search area.
'We've searched areas that we felt pretty positive that she may have been. Unfortunately, we didn't succeed in what we were hoping for,' Parkton said. 'Every day I think it expands a little bit farther and farther.'
Deputies say this is now a recovery mission.
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As they try to get as many eyes on the water as possible, the sheriff's office is asking boaters to keep an eye out and report any information they may have.
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