Search continues for missing Homer woman

Update: This story was updated at 5 p.m. with a correction on Murnane’s age and new information.

About 50 volunteers continued the search today for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, 38, missing from her Main Street home since Thursday. At the end of the search on Sunday, she remained missing.

Organized by the Homer Volunteer Fire Department under the direction of Alaska State Troopers, on Sunday afternoon the teams walked wooded areas on the west side of town below Bartlett Street to the Homer Bypass and in the Karen Hornaday Park areas.

“Obviously, we’re trying to do a search of the local area and anywhere accessible to her,” said HVFD Chief Mark Kirko.

Homer Police issued a Silver, or Adult Alert for Murnane after she was reported missing on Oct. 17. She was last seen in the area of Main Street and Lee Drive “and is determined to be at risk,” police said in the alert. Murane was wearing a blue jacket, light blue shirt and blue jeans and is almost 6-feet and weighs about 160 pounds. Police said she does not drive or own a vehicle and should be on foot.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call Homer Police at 907-235-3150 or the Silver Alert hotline at 855-SILVR99 or 855-745-8799.

Police also have been searching by air. With help from Maritime Helicopters, they did a low search on Saturday.

Working in grids, volunteers walked woods of alder and spruce that dot the back yards of businesses and homes in the west Homer area. They looked in culverts, in outbuildings, under porches and even in Dumpsters. Property owners in the area should expect to see search parties.

Homer Police Lt. Ryan Browing said today’s ground search would wrap up later this afternoon. Murnane has her wallet, identification and cell phone. The last time her phone sent a ping was to a cell phone tower near Baycrest Hill, but that is within about a 3.5-mile radius.

A team with search dogs will do another search tonight, according to a Facebook update from Homer Police.

This is a developing story and will be updated as news comes in.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.