Craig Strickland has been missing since Sunday, December 27, but his wife, Helen, has hope that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will find the country singer soon.
“To see how much work can be done in a specific area, it has given us a lot of rest because we feel like that’ll give us a lot of hope they will find Craig soon,” the former pageant queen told 40/29 News exclusively on Friday, January 1.
The patrol boosted their search for the 29-year-old Backroad Anthem frontman on Friday, using a helicopter, four boats and search dogs, according to 40/29 News.
“The canine units and the Kay County Sheriff’s Department have been so wonderful to us,” Helen told the news outlet. “The Oklahoma Highway Patrol having gone above and beyond, especially going through this struggle, is the most comforting thing you can have.”
Also difficult for Helen and the Strickland family is the thought of where Craig may be. “It’s more painful for us to think that he could be under water,” she said. “Still, we want that closure in seeing him.”
The former Miss Arkansas also updated followers about search efforts on Twitter Friday.
The search has been more confined today. Approval has been given for more professional crews to join tomorrow. #CraigStrickland
— Helen Strickland (@HelenWisner) January 1, 2016
As previously reported, the musician and his friend Chase Morland went missing over the weekend during a duck-hunting trip at Kaw Lake. Authorities found 22-year-old Morland’s body as well as the duo’s capsized boat on Monday, December 28. Craig’s beloved dog, Sam, was found with Morland. According to Helen, the loyal canine, who is safe, would not leave his side until Morland was found.
Prior to their hunting trip, Morland made an ominous tweet on Saturday, December 26, which Craig retweeted: “In case we don’t come back, @BackroadCraig and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma. #IntoTheStorm.”
According to the Weather Channel, Goliath was the deadliest storm system of 2015. Goliath — which has included tornadoes, flooding and blizzard conditions from New Mexico to Maine — has killed at least 52 people.
