Published: August 12, 2009 07:08 am      

Missing ATV rider is found

An ATV rider who rode into the woods after reportedly threatening to commit suicide was found eating at a Sophia restaurant after emergency service workers say they combed southern Raleigh County for about 18 hours.

Around 10 p.m. Monday, Shane Ryan McGinnis, 27, of Midway, left his residence on an ATV, said Sgt. Jim Miller of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department. Witnesses said he grabbed prescription medication and threatened to kill himself before fleeing to a wooded area near Affinity Road.

Emergency service workers, including firefighters from Sophia City, Sophia Area, Coal City, Lester and Beaver volunteer departments, launched a search after authorities received the call 30 minutes later, officials said. A command center was set up at Crab Orchard Elementary School.

Sophia Area Chief Danny Treadway said numerous areas of the county were searched through the night and into the day Tuesday. The search area included Shady Spring and Daniels because a tower picked up his McGinnis’ cell phone there. Later, a tower in Sophia picked up his signal.

A Burning Rock Off-Road Park crew joined the search because of the park’s relative proximity to McGinnis’ residence.

A State Police helicopter was sent from Charleston to do an aerial search, Sgt. G.A. Duckworth said.

But at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, two emergency service workers participating in the search stopped at the Lester Square Hardee’s to use the restroom, Treadway said. There, they found McGinnis eating.

Treadway said McGinnis had apparently ridden his ATV through various wooded areas until coming back to Sophia.

McGinnis was believed to have been taken to a local hospital.

— Amelia Pridemore