A 92
Wes Dellinger
About 5:30 p.m. Saturday  a family member called the Shenandoah County Sheriffâs Office to let authorities know that McDonnell had not returned to his car after going deer hunting  said Capt.  Wes Dellinger.
 âThey were expecting him â  Dellinger  said. âHe had called them and told them he would be a little while getting out  and they went out there to wait for him  and as dark approached they realized he wasnât out.â
The family was waiting at McDonnellâs car when they called authorities   Dellinger  said. Authorities pinpointed McDonnellâs last known location from a call he made to a family member before his phone died   Dellinger  said.
 Dellinger  said that about 20 to 30 people were on the ground and that others were in the command operations center while a helicopter from Fairfax flew overhead and search dogs scoured a 4- to 5-square-mile area based on McDonnellâs last phone call. Darkness hindered visibility  and 16 hours later  he was still missing.
âThis gentleman was prepared  but his devices and his equipment failed him â  Dellinger  said.
 Dellinger  said McDonnell let  his  family know where  he  was going  has known the area for âmost of  his  life â packed additional food and wore hunting apparel.
The temperatures were in the high 20s and low 30s during the time  he  was stuck in the woods   Dellinger  said.
Searches are not uncommon for the Shenandoah County Sheriffâs Office   Dellinger  said  given the hiking trails and forest property in the area.
 His  advice to hikers and hunters: âPlan for the worst  hope for the best.â
About 5:30 p.m. Saturday  a family member called the Shenandoah County Sheriffâs Office to let authorities know that McDonnell had not returned to his car after going deer hunting  said Capt.   [TGT] 
âThey were expecting  [TGT]  â   [TGT] said. âHe had called them and told them  [TGT]  would be a little while getting out  and they went out there to wait for  [TGT]   and as dark approached they realized  [TGT]  wasnât out.â
The family was waiting at McDonnellâs car when they called authorities    [TGT] said. Authorities pinpointed McDonnellâs last known location from a call  [TGT]  made to a family member before  [TGT]  phone died    [TGT] said.
  [TGT] said that about 20 to 30 people were on the ground and that others were in the command operations center while a helicopter from Fairfax flew overhead and search dogs scoured a 4- to 5-square-mile area based on McDonnellâs last phone call. Darkness hindered visibility  and 16 hours later   [TGT]  was still missing.
âThis gentleman was prepared  but  [TGT]  devices and  [TGT]  equipment failed  [TGT]  â   [TGT] said.
  [TGT] said McDonnell let   [TGT]   family know where   [TGT]   was going  has known the area for âmost of  his  life â packed additional food and wore hunting apparel.
The temperatures were in the high 20s and low 30s during the time  he  was stuck in the woods    [TGT] said.
Searches are not uncommon for the Shenandoah County Sheriffâs Office   Dellinger  said  given the hiking trails and forest property in the area.
 His  advice to hikers and hunters: âPlan for the worst  hope for the best.â