More than 100 people participated in a search party in Frazer Township for the missing Darlene Harbison in early October, and its organizers are hoping for another good turnout this Saturday.
Harbison’s mother, Charlotte Ruedinger, said her family is drumming up another search party Saturday for the 59-year-old originally from Butler County, and she hopes to have just as many people attend the search around Worthington and Buffalo Township.
“It was just beautiful the amount of help we had from friends, family and people who didn't know us,” Ruedinger said. “They were strangers to us, and they came to help.”
Harbison, who graduated from Butler Area High School and had been living in Frazer Township, Allegheny County, was last seen Sept. 11, according to family members. After returning home from a camping trip with her daughter, no one was able to reach her.
Harbison’s daughter asked police to do a welfare check on her mother Sept. 11, Ruedinger said. According to Frazer Township police, Harbison’s disappearance is being investigated by Allegheny County homicide detectives after the welfare check raised concern.
Terry Kuhns, chief of Frazer Township police, said Harbison’s boyfriend, Eric Gibbs, 57, was considered a suspect in her disappearance. He was found dead by apparent suicide on Sept. 15 in West Deer Township, police said.
Ruedinger said she hasn’t gotten any new information from police since the last search party regarding her daughter’s whereabouts. She said the initial reports from police were that Harbison could be found at the scene of what appears to be a motorcycle crash.
“The police had told us they thought that he staged a motorcycle accident to take the pressure off of him, that he would have thrown her over a hill and the motorcycle also,” Ruedinger said. “There has not been any indication of that at all, but our family has been out searching since.”
Ruedinger said she still maintains hope for finding Harbison, especially after seeing the support her family has gotten from strangers.
“We're probably about 40 minutes from the last place,” Ruedinger said of this week’s search. “This time we're going to hit Buffalo Township and work our way over to the Worthington, Kittanning area. Depending on how many people we get to help, I have no doubt it will be just as good as last time.”
Ruedinger said the party will convene at the Route 356 American Legion on North Pike Road on Saturday morning, and the family plans to search the region from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
