Peering over a bridge?s railing, James “Gordy” Tressler scoured the brown waters of Little Pipe Creek in the bright sun of Wednesday afternoon, wondering aloud where his best friend, “Mikey,” could be.
The two had been friends for years, the 12-year-old said, and would often swim together in the creek in Keymar, where the pair took a dip only two weeks ago.
Michael White, 14, and another friend, Thomas Plunkard, 16, went for a swim in the swollen river after severe storms Tuesday and haven?t come back.
Gordy Tressler said his father often warned him of the river after heavy rains, so he went to a cousin?s house instead.
“I hope they?re OK,” Gordy said. “I don?t know where they went.”
The creek, which runs along the Carroll-Frederick county line, moved too fast Wednesday, preventing Maryland State Police rescue divers from entering the rushing water during a search for the two missing boys.
“It?s now a waiting game for safety,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher Sasse, of the state police Frederick barracks.
Police and firefighters from Frederick and Carroll counties plan to keep searching today.
Authorities said the swirling waters near a dam 150 yards from the bridge where Route 194 crosses the creek rose again Wednesday, and were too dangerous for divers to explore.
“We saw a log go in, and it didn?t come out,” Sasse said.
But “spotters,” or rescuers along the water?s edge, watched for any sign of the boys between the Monocacy River and Md. 194.
Both families of the boys declined to comment to the media, but friends, neighbors and others gathered on the bridge, including Gordy Tressler?s sister, Amanda, who said she stayed with Mikey?s mom, Cheryl White, until late Tuesday night.
“She kept saying, ?I keep thinking he is just going to walk through that door,?” Amanda Tressler said.
Friends said the boys are students at Walkersville High School.
Newell said police have not ruled out foul play, but that all clues led investigators to believe the boys were “swept up by the rapid current.”
After the boys? parents called police after the two friends didn?t come home, state police K-9 units and a helicopter scoured the area but found only a bicycle and some clothes along the bank.
