UPDATED SUNDAY PM — Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle reports that Search and Rescue crews located the body of William Weikart around 10 am this morning. He was located in a pine thicket about 50 yards off of the Cherry Blossom trail. The Body will be sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke for the cause and manner of death to be determined. No evidence of foul play was found. Sheriff Sprinkle wants to thank the multiple Search, Rescue and K-9 groups who responded from as far away as Blacksburg and Richmond to assist his Office and Botetourt Fire and EMS Career and Volunteer staff. Also thanks to the Virginia State Police and others involved in this effort.
(Continue reading for the earlier news release.)
PREVIOUSLY — At approximately 7:30 pm on Saturday November 26, the Botetourt County 911 Dispatch Center received a call in reference to a missing 73 year old white male by the name of William L. Weikart of Troutville VA. Deputies responded to Greenfield Industrial Park and met the man’s family members there at the Cherry Blossom Trail. Family members said that Mr. Weikart left his residence around 3:30 pm to go Greenfield for a walk, which he frequently does. When he had not returned home by 6:30 pm the family became concerned and went to look for him. Weikart’s truck was located near the Cherry Blossom Trail and the family checked the trails that he normally uses and upon not being able to locate him, called the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived and started searching the trails and open areas as well as the area businesses and construction zone. Upon finding no signs of Weikart, Botetourt County Fire and EMS was contacted and came out to assist in the search. K-9 teams as well a State Police aircraft were utilized as well until around 4 am then the search was suspended until 8am this morning. Crews are currently preparing to resume the search now and will continue throughout the day. Anyone having seen or having information about Mr. Wiekart is asked to call the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office at 540-473-8631.
