FBI, U.S. Marshals now involved in search for Brian Adkison

More agencies are joining in on the search for suspected kidnapper, Brian Adkison.

Thursday, it was announced that the FBI and a deputy U.S. Marshal task force are now helping in the search that started over the weekend.

Authorities have been searching by land, air and water near Ivy Bend.

SWAT teams from Benton and Morgan counties and the Highway Patrol were searching the woods late Wednesday night. Four Highway Patrol boats were on the lake and the Patrol’s helicopter was searching overhead.

The search effort has run into some problems. The Morgan County’s armored SWAT vehicle broke down en route to the checkpoint. Highway Patrol’s thermal imaging scanner in their helicopter is not working, hurting efforts to continue the search through the night.

ABC 17 News first reported Wednesday afternoon that a deputy noticed the back door of a home in Brown’s Bend had been kicked in around 3 p.m.

That deputy started searching the area and saw a boat leave the dock behind the home. A Highway Patrol boat tried to intercept that boat, but Adkison jumped out of the boat and ran into the woods on the Morgan County side of the lake.

Law enforcement near the Lake of the Ozarks have been actively searching for Adkison after he was spotted near Sunrise Beach Monday afternoon. He is thought to be armed and dangerous.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that Adkison was initially observed Monday in Sunrise Beach, driving a stolen pickup truck.

Adkison then stole a personal water craft and fled the area. The Missouri State Highway Patrol recovered the water craft near the 58 mile marker in Ivy Bend.

Witnesses reported seeing Adkison fleeing the area on foot, so authorities set up a perimeter in the area to conduct a sweep of the wood, but did not find him.

Law enforcement say he was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jean shorts.

Police said he may be looking for a plane to steal and was observed near a small airport on Monday.

Adkison may have been wounded after possibly suffering an injury over the weekend when he allegedly kidnapped 23-year-old Lauren Crawford.

Residents who talked to ABC 17 News fear he is hiding in a vacation home and will be able to wait police out.

Earlier Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol told ABC 17 News they sent their their helicopter to the area to assist in an active pursuit.

Law enforcement were searching the Lake of the Ozarks for a missing Jet Ski that Adkison may have taken.

Previously around 4 p.m., police were involved in an active manhunt in a wooded Morgan County area near Highway 135. They believe Adkison was on foot in the woods.

Officers had earlier set up a checkpoint near Shawnee View Drive and Highway TT to search cars for Adkision.

An ABC 17 News crew at the scene said there was a heavy police presence in the area, with the Camden County Sheriff’s Department and Sunrise Beach Police Department.

Lauren Crawford was reported missing over the weekend but found at University Hospital Sunday after she contacted her family. Crawford is a medical student at the University of Missouri.

Hospital officials told ABC 17 News Sunday night that she was treated and released.

Police say Crawford’s ex-boyfriend, Adkison, is a suspect. Law enforcement say Crawford left her home Saturday to walk her dog. Her dog was later found without her.

Adkison has several pending charges against him. He allegedly broke into a Columbia home and raped a woman in May.

Police are currently looking for Adkison, who was last seen wearing a white “Fox Racing” T-shirt with plaid short and flip flops.

He was last seen driving a white four-door Chevrolet truck with white mirror covers, a chrome grill and bumper, and running boards.

Adkison is known to visit the Caldwell County, Boone County, Camden County, Columbia and Sunrise beach areas.

Anyone with information is asked to contact law enforcement immediately.

Stay with ABC 17 News and abc17news.com for the latest on this developing story.