Divers search lake for missing woman

Divers from Beatrice, Fairbury and Thayer County searched the lake in the Wolf-Wildcat Wildlife Management Area about six miles south of Virginia Thursday, but found no trace of a rural Filley woman who has been missing for more than three weeks.

The divers began their search about 6:30 p.m. and concluded about 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Officials said they were attempting to locate thed dark gray wood panel 1991 Plymouth Voyager minivan 36-year-old Ann Marie Kelley was last seen driving about 8:25 a.m. April 15 at the SunMart supermarket in Beatrice.

Gage County Attorney Randall Ritnour said divers searched Bear Lake on Tuesday. In addition, Ritnour said officials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are expected to bring sonar equipment to use in search Rockford and Big Indian lakes this weekend.

"We have no reason to believe that she is in a lake, but we want to check out all possibilities," he said.

Ritnour added Thursday that the Gage County Sheriff's Office has received no new leads in the case. Kelley is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, 125-130 pounds, with auburn/red/brown hair. Anyone with information is urged to call the sheriff's office at 402-223-5211 or Beatrice Crime Stoppers at 402-228-4343.

For more details, see Friday's Daily Sun print edition and www.beatricedailysun.com.