Special Search Dog Works His Magic, Finds Missing Woman

[Daryl]

Special Search Dog Works His Magic, Finds Missing Woman retrieved from http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143830&catid=3

DEKALB COUNTY, GA -- Katherine Copenhaver's mental condition has plummeted in just the last year. Her symptoms resemble that of Alzheimer's disease with the inability to talk and memory loss. Doctors say it's the result of the treatment she's receiving for her cancer.

Her husband Jim has been told it's possible that she can regain normal mental function. Until then, she mostly walks back and forth from the kitchen to the garage.

She had always stayed close to her husband...until last Sunday.

When Jim Copenhaver turned to find her, she was gone.

"I didn't hear her come back in," Jim Copenhaver said. "And I thought, okay she's, she's out in the garage again. And looked out in the garage and she wasn't there."

She had never wandered away before.

Jim called 911.

During the course of the search for Katherine, the Georgia Alzheimer's Association contacted Jim Copenhaver to say that it had a search and rescue team with dogs that could help.

After five hours of looking without success, the DeKalb Police department said, "Alright, bring them on."

Pam Nyberg and her dog Bodi are part of Alpha Team, a group of search and rescue volunteers and GEMA-certified canines who are available to aid law enforcement.

"When I presented him with the scent article, he knew where that particular scent was," said Pam Nyberg. "He locked on it and trailed her in."

Bodi found Katherine Copenhaver in thick woods about 500 yards from home.

"It took us three minutes from the time I scented him up, til the time we had her," Pam Nyberg said proudly.

Thanks to the dedication of Pam Nyberg and the talents of her dog Bodi, Jim Copenhaver has his wife back.

Now he is hoping to get his wife back.