Texas Equusearch, the “mounted search and recovery team,” has volunteered for hundreds of missing cases, including Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Crimejunkies spoke with Cheryl in the organization’s office for further information on their incredible work....

WHEN AND WHY WAS EQUUSEARCH FOUNDED?

Texas EquuSearch was founded in 2000 by Tim Miller. Mr. Miller suffered the loss of his 16-year-old daughter in 1984. She was raped and murdered and left in a field for over 17 months. Law enforcement insisted she was a runaway and did nothing. Mr. Miller had horses at the time and decided to form a group that could assist law enforcement so that no family would ever have to endure the long and painful process of waiting and not knowing.

HOW MANY SEARCHES HAVE YOU CONDUCTED IN THE PAST YEAR?

We have handled over 890 cases to date, 72 from this year alone.

DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT OR ARE YOU CONTACTED TO PERFORM A SEARCH?

We never approach a family. We only become involved at the request of the immediate family or law enforcement.

YOU DO NOT CHARGE FAMILIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR YOUR SEARCHES, CORRECT?

That is correct, we have never charged a family or law enforcement one dime.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED?

We have over 490 members across the United States, and have had over 60,000 volunteers since 2000.

DO VOLUNTEERS NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRAINING PRIOR TO JOINING?

Typically, our training is on the spot. We are currently putting together training classes for our volunteers.

YOUR ORGANIZATION HELPED SEARCH FOR NATALEE HOLLOWAY IN ARUBA. IN THE HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEO THAT CAUGHT JORAN VAN DER SLOOT TALKING ABOUT NATALEE, HE SAID A FRIEND OF HIS THREW HER IN THE WATER. DID YOUR ORGANIZATION SEARCH THE AREA HE WAS REFERRING TO?

I can tell you that we covered an area of the ocean that is about 80% the size of Aruba.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SEARCHES YOU CONDUCTED IN SRI LANKA AFTER THE TSUNAMI.

We traveled to Sri Lanka with 18 volunteers, stayed approximately 3 weeks, recovered over 280 bodies with two alive, and rebuilt a village.

WHAT SEARCHES ARE YOU CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN NOW?

Mr. Miller has been in New York, Vermont, Ohio, Alabama, and is currently in Florida working cases over the last few weeks.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, WHERE CAN HE/SHE RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION?

You may join by visiting our website at www.txeq.org and fill out a membership application. If you simply want to volunteer for one particular search, follow the website for search information.