Search Launched for McCaffery

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: The Charleston County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement following a search of the area in the vicinity of Bees Ferry Road and Highway 61:

On March 27, 2012 approximately 12:45 p.m. investigators and searchers completed the search activities along Hwy 61 and Bees Ferry Road area. The search has not yielded any additional evidence in the search for Gayle McCaffrey.

While the efforts are completed today additional areas may be looked at in the immediate future as the investigation continues.

UPDATE 12 p.m.: The ground search for Gayle McCaffery launched this morning should wrap up by about 12:30 p.m. There are about 50 people out to search including Charleston County Sheriff, Charleston Fire Department, St. Andrews Fire Department and the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad, according to Capt. Eric Watson, sheriff's spokesman.

The original story is as follows:

Sheriff's deputies and emergency crews this morning launched several foot searches related to the search of missing woman Gayle McCaffery.

Deputies and Charleston County Rescue and Charleston County Emergency Preparedness members are canvasing areas near Highway 61 and Bee’s Ferry Road in West Ashley, according to sheriff's spokesman Major Jim Brady.

"These searches are not based on any tips but are meant to try and eliminate locations near the area where Mrs. McCaffery went missing and are being conducted along with other ongoing collateral investigations," Brady said.

Gayle McCaffrey has been missing since March 18 when her husband, Robert, contacted authorities about her whereabouts. Deputies have said they have a person of interest in the case, but they have declined to name the individual.