May 20, 2008 — Missing no longer, the body of Dustin Rhodes was found by rescue workers Tuesday morning around 10 a.m. at the foot of a cliff off west Scenic Road on St. Croix.
Originally from Kansas, Rhodes was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on St. Croix.
Rhodes was reported missing by his father and girlfriend at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, according to St. Croix Police Chief Thomas Hannah. Rhodes was last seen when he left home on May 15. Rhodes was going to the Caribbean Health and Fitness Center in Beeston Hill gym to work out, according to his father.
Police and EMTs found Rhodes' 2006 Jeep Liberty Monday afternoon on the north side of St. Croix. People from the Health Department, Hovensa and other volunteers helped with the search.
Rhodes' fellow EMTs on the search team had to rappel down the side of a cliff to get to his body, said Police Department spokeswoman Melody Rames. Rhodes' father positively identified the body about 1 p.m. Police report no obvious signs of foul play. The official cause of death will be declared after an autopsy, Rames said.
"The EMTs were out by 6:30 in the morning and were the ones who actually found him," said Health Department spokeswoman Eunice Bedminster. "We were ready to hand out flyers with his picture and yellow ribbons for our ambulances and vehicles. Now we've changed to purple ribbons. … He was a very loving individual. We will miss him greatly. Every one of us at some point during this day has cried."
Hannah offered his thanks to everyone involved for coming out and helping in the search. There were many calls to the police regarding Rhodes, and without the involvement of the community in crime solving and crime prevention the police would be hard pressed, Rames said.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
