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Search on for Missing Nebraska Family

By CARSON WALKER
,
AP
posted: 24 MINUTES AGO
comments: 520
filed under: National News
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (April 2) - Members of a missing Nebraska family whose car was found in the Black Hills of South Dakota were interviewed about allegations of abuse on the day they were last seen nearly two weeks ago, authorities said Thursday.
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Schade family
Knox County, Neb., Sheriff's Office / AP

The Schade family of Creighton, Neb., was last seen March 20. Shown clockwise from the top are Matt Schade, Rowena Schade, 8-year-old Sean and 11-year-old Devon.

The black Ford Taurus was found Tuesday, and authorities searched Thursday for Matthew and Rowena Schade and their children, Devon, 11, and Sean, 8, in rugged terrain near the Pactola Reservoir and the village of Silver City.
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Later Thursday, authorities said Matthew Schade had made phone contact with his father and said the family was doing well, wanted to be left alone and was prepared for an approaching snowstorm in the Black Hills. Authorities said they would scale back the search until the situation could be assessed.
The family was last seen March 20 at its home 400 miles away in Creighton, Neb. All four were interviewed that day by a Knox County deputy sheriff about allegations of abuse, according to statements from Nebraska and South Dakota law enforcement agencies.
The deputy "made an offer of help and counseling. No arrests were made and no injuries were observed," Knox County Sheriff Jim Janecek said in a release. He did not comment further.
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Matthew Schade, 26, is on probation in Nebraska for burglary, and an arrest warrant was issued after he failed to notify a probation officer of his whereabouts, the statement said. Rowena Schade, 29, was also on probation but authorities did say why.
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Investigators said the Schades, who spent their honeymoon in the Black Hills, had talked about relocating. It also appeared they left the house in a hurry with more than $1,000 worth of "camping survival type gear" they had recently purchased.
"We believe their intention is not to be found so we have to structure our search teams differently to make sure we have law enforcement on them. It's pretty rugged terrain in there," Maj. Brian Mueller of the Pennington County Sheriff's office told The Associated Press.
For six straight years, Matthew Schade attended a survival camp in the search area through his church and "expressed he would like to live like a hermit in the mountains," Mueller said in news release.
The ground and air search focused Thursday on the numerous abandoned mines, cabins and other buildings in the isolated Pactola Reservoir area, as well as meadows and creek beds that would serve well as a camp, Mueller said.
About 2 feet of new snow covered the area since the car was abandoned, Mueller said.
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-04-02 13:59:21
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Rlynch439

09:06 PMApr 03 2009

I have prayed everyday for a moutain to fall on me but my prayers were never answered. Since I never made it past the eighth grade I guess the moutain thinks that there are more worthy people to fall on. Oh well.

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(0)

Paulthamec

09:05 PMApr 03 2009

it sounds like foul play to me they are all probley dead. end of story

AVG RATING:
(0)

COWANN184

09:04 PMApr 03 2009

your right the economy was bad but know that obama new taxes are taking effect creating more lay offs, man is crazy & will ruin America, he does not care nor does care about american people, he wants to reap & spend

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(0)

SCottiKer

09:02 PMApr 03 2009

Placement and adoptions of children are big money for CPS. They steal children from their own families who have never harmed them.

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(0)

SHERRYBRETZ

09:01 PMApr 03 2009

That's where people have to create a different reality. We are the tools to create society. If we empower thieves and criminals how can we expect paradise? We must use our brains

AVG RATING:
(1)

Wizard0104

09:01 PMApr 03 2009

seriously thier gonna have to come down from that mountain eventually

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(0)

Kjshep1960

09:01 PMApr 03 2009

Toooooooo much governmental harassment/intervention will probably lead to more situtations of this type. It seems nowdays you can't even smoke a cigarette with out someone getting all in your business. I just have to wonder are there REALLY any places you can go to escape it.

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(3)

petey5259

09:00 PMApr 03 2009

obama is ruining this country. All he is doing is giving money away and increasing the national debt. He actions are totally irresponsible and disrespectful to the american people. Too much spending is what got us into the mess we are in now.I believe he will go down as the worst president in u.s. HISTORY. He doesn't know what he is doing.

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(5)

NeffVW

09:00 PMApr 03 2009

They can just be an urban legend about the family that dissapeared & bred a half human wolfman that eats the Police. Or started yet another secret society deep in yet another forest.

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(2)

MAGICDOG39

09:00 PMApr 03 2009

Its the darwin awards in action! This time a whole family is going down at one time.

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