By Future Brown
Herald Democrat
The Sherman Police Department had more help in its search for eight-year-old Clara Robinson this week. Texas Equusearch joined crews Tuesday as they continue to search for the child that went missing following a Christmas Eve wreck that took the life of her father Will Robinson.
The police department has slowed down its updates on the search as they continue to share the message, “We’re still here, Clara.”
“It’s been a few days since we provided an update on our search for Clara,” the update said. “Other than postponing one day (January 10th), search teams have been working in different capacities each day. Yesterday, the focus was 11 different debris piles.”
Founded in 2000, Equusearch began as a mounted search and recovery team. Now, the non profit organization headquartered near Houston uses ground searchers, side scan sonar, ground penetrating radar, boats, aircrafts, drones and ATVs. They do not charge law enforcement and agencies that they help support for use of their services.
“We are committed to providing experienced, organized, and ethical volunteer search efforts for missing persons, utilizing the most suitable and up-to-date technologies and methodologies,” the mission of the group says.
Throughout the last 22 days the department has been joined by many agencies in the search.
“We are incredibly appreciative of them and their willingness to help us find Clara,” SPD said of Equusearch. “We all have the same goal.”
This search began on Christmas Eve after Sherman emergency services began working the crash scene near US Highway 75 and Houston around 9:30 a.m. The Robinson family vehicle is believed to have left the roadway near Taylor Street and soon after became trapped in the drainage ditch along US 75.
There were six occupants in the vehicle including a mother, father and four children. The mother and three of the children were safely rescued, but the father and one child were not located near the other family members.
The father, Will Robinson, was found later that day and has been pronounced dead.
The department continues to caution people from donating to any fundraiser not verified by the Robinson family.
“We can only confirm the validity of a bank account with First United Bank that has been created in the Robinson family name,” the statement said.
Crews that have helped with the search included Sherman Police and Fire-Rescue, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of Corrections, Collin County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Texas Search and Rescue, Texas Task Force 2, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Grayson County Office of Emergency Management, Texas Public Works, and local rescue diver Brady Baskin and so many others.
