Butler County Water Rescue Team 300 members search for the body of a hiker Saturday at McConnells Mill. Wittnesses saw Jeffery Hamby II of Meadville fall into Slippery Rock creek back on May 2; state park rangers and volunteer groups have been searching since his disapearance.

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP, Lawrence County — The search for a Meadville man who fell into Slippery Rock Creek on May 2 came up empty Sunday after canine search crews initially signaled interest at a spot near where the man was last seen.

Jeffery Hanby II, 38, was hiking with his fiancé when witnesses saw him fall into the creek above a section of rapids at McConnells Mill State Park.

The creek, which contains numerous rapids and large rocks, was above normal water levels at the time.

Rangers from Moraine State Park and McConnells Mill were aided by search dogs from the Sarver-based Canine Aided Emergency Search and Rescue group Saturday.

Park manager Dustin Drew said the dogs showed interest in a spot along the shore near Eckert Bridge. Park officials called on assistance from Butler County Water Rescue Team 300 to aid in the search Sunday.

Rescue team members transported the dogs on a raft to continue the search Sunday. On multiple occasions, the two dogs each signaled to their owners that they picked up a sent near where Hanby was reportedly last seen floating in the creek. Using a pole mounted video camera, search crews spent the day searching from the raft. Park officials reported that they were unsuccessful in locating Hanby as of Sunday evening.

Family members of the missing hiker organized a separate search Saturday using a search group they created on Facebook. Close to 30 volunteers from the region, including a numer of Ellwood City area residents, searched farther downstream from where rangers have been focused. That group met outside of Elwood City to search sections of the creek below Eckert Bridge.