The Richland County Sheriff’s Department wishes to express our sympathy to the family and friends of five year old Angela Girton. On Thursday evening, May 28^th the body of a juvenile female believed to be that of Angela Girton was recovered from the Wisconsin River near Port Andrew.

Last evening at 5:49pm The Richland County Sheriff’s Department Communications Center received a call from a citizen on Hwy 60 who stated he thought he had found a body in the river. The citizen was doing some yard work near the north shore of the river, when he observed what he thought was a body next to a fallen tree approximately 6 feet off the shore. The concerned citizen contacted Richland County Authorities and Sheriff’s Deputies responded. Upon their arrival, deputies confirmed the body of a juvenile female at that location. A call was made for Blue River Fire and Rescue to respond. Blue River arrived with a boat and personnel and assisted with recovery of the body.

Richland County Coroner James Rossing also responded to the scene. The Coroner’s office is now working on the positive identification of the body through the use of dental records and DNA.

A pink top was found on the body during the recovery effort. This matches the description of the top Angela Girton was wearing on the day of her disappearance. This and the size and height of the body lead us to believe it is Angela.

Authorities have been searching for Angela since the evening of Monday April 6^th, when a 911 call was made by an off duty Richland County Dispatcher fishing on the river at the time. A group of children told the off duty dispatcher that a young girl had fallen into the river and they were going for help. The child was described as a female approximately 5 years of age wearing a pink top. An extensive search commenced. On that date, and since, many professionals and volunteers have dedicated countless hours and resources to attain one goal…to find Angela Girton.

The Sheriff’s Department has been keeping a case file on the incident, and will continue to work toward completing that file.

Sheriff Bindl would like to express sincere thanks to all of the agencies, citizen volunteers, and everyone who helped in the search since she first went missing and was presumed drowned on April 6^th, 2015. Many people have given of their time and resources to try and locate Angela.

 

Sheriff James Bindl

At 5:49pm, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Communications Center received a call from a citizen stating he saw what he believed to be a body in the Wisconsin River. Authorities responded and discovered the body of a juvenile female at that location. The body was recovered near the Village of Port Andrew, WI.

More information will be released tomorrow (5/29/15) as it becomes available.

Authority: Sheriff James J. Bindl

Press Release 05-28-2015

Richland Center, WI: The recovery operation will continue to locate 5-year-old Angela Girton who fell into the Wisconsin River on April 6, 2015. Her body has not been found at this time. Richland County Sheriff Jim Bindl and Richland County Emergency Management Director Darin Gudgeon stated that they are committed to expanding the search area to locate Angela.

Today, the cadaver dog team KERT (K9 Emergency Response Team) and a local helicopter pilot offered their services to increase the search area from Gotham to Muscoda. Bruce’s Legacy divers will return on Friday to collect and analyze sonar images with the assistance of the Wisconsin DNR.

Additional information will be released as soon as it is made available.

WI River Search for Child Release #13 4-23-2015

Richland Center, WI: The recovery operation resumed today to locate 5-year-old Angela Girton who fell into the Wisconsin River on April 6, 2015. Bruce’s Legacy divers returned to a specific location on the water where sonar imaging and multiple cadaver dog teams believed her body to rest. The water level receded enough to improve visibility; however, her body was not found.

Richland County Emergency Management Director, Darin Gudgeon, stated that “the search is not over”. Local officials will begin coordinating efforts with Bruce’s Legacy to collect additional sonar images and request further assistance from cadaver dog teams.

The following agencies were involved in today’s operation: Bruce’s Legacy, Richland County Emergency Management, Lone Rock Fire and EMS Departments, Blue River Fire Department, Cazenovia Fire Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Additional information will be released as soon as it is made available.

WI River Search for Child Release #12 4-21-2015

Richland Center, WI: The recovery operation will resume today to locate 5-year-old Angela Girton who fell into the Wisconsin River on April 6, 2015. Her body has not been found at this time. River search operations were suspended last week due to high water, but river bank searches have continued and cadaver dog teams from Wisconsin K9SOS Search and Rescue and K9 Emergency Response Team (KERT) aided in the efforts.

Bruce’s Legacy will be on site again today to further assist in the recovery operation. The following agencies have also been involved in recent efforts: Richland County Emergency Management, Lone Rock Fire and EMS Departments, Blue River Fire Department, Wisconsin DNR, Richland County Sherriff’s Department, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Additional information will be released as soon as it is made available.

WI River Search for Child Release #11 4-21-2015

Richland Center, WI: The recovery operation continued this weekend to locate 5-year-old Angela Girton who fell into the Wisconsin River on April 6, 2015. Her body has not been found at this time. Richland County Emergency Management and Lone Rock Fire were assisted by the following agencies:  Cazenovia Fire Department, Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin State Patrol, Sauk County Dive team, Blue River Fire Department, Iowa County Emergency Management, local ARES/RACES Amateur Radio Group, Richland County Sherriff’s Department, Lone Rock EMS and many members of the public.

Saturday’s efforts included 5 boat teams, 2 kayak teams, 2 cadaver dog teams, and a search plane that scanned from Angela’s point of entry to Wauzeka and back. Bruce’s Legacy and the Sauk County Dive Team worked the area with zero visibility, high water and strong currents. Sunday’s efforts included 3 boat teams and Bruce’s Legacy collecting and analyzing additional sonar images.

Today, members of the search team will coordinate morning and evening times to continue the search.  Wisconsin DNR Wardens will also continue to search the river as they are out on normal duty.  The recovery efforts have been scaled back due to zero visibility, high water and strong currents.  Richland County Emergency Management will be working with the National Weather Service and Prairie du Sac dam to monitor the flow and depth of the river.  Once it comes down, we will re-deploy divers and reinstate search efforts; including the assistance of cadaver dog teams.

The public is welcome to search the area from the Gotham boat landing to Boscobel.  Due to the high water and fast current, we ask that those searching follow all necessary safety precautions.  If anyone discovers her body, please mark the location with a flag or ribbon and call the Richland County Sherriff’s Department at 608-647-2106. Additional information will be released as soon as it is made available.

WI River Search for Child Release #10 4-13-15

Richland Center, WI: The recovery operation continues to locate 5-year-old Angela Girton who fell into the Wisconsin River Monday night. Her body has not been found at this time. The sonar images that were collected and analyzed by Bruce’s Legacy yesterday were unsuccessful in locating her today. These recovery efforts will continue again tomorrow with the assistance of the Madison Police Department cadaver dog team and a search plane. Additional information will be released as soon as it is made available.

WI River Search for Child Release #9 4-10-15