3 Students/Girls Softball Players Missing from Dickinson State University

...search parties forming as we speak. If you are able, please contact local law enforcement. Please be on the lookout for them or their vehicle (1997 Jeep Cherokee California plates 3UBN521). All three girls are members of the DSU Softball team. The names and pictures are as follows:

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ASHLEY NUEFELD

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KYRSTIN GEMAR

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AFTON WILLIAMSON

No image available on DSU's website.

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The Dickinson Press is currently has a running article after a local news conference. Apparently, one of the young ladies called for help but the line was disconnected thereafter. The girls are thought to perhaps have been out "stargazing" in Southwestern, ND as they were apt to do in the past. The distress call was described as "hysteric". The Stark County Sheriff, however, has stated that foul play is not expected at this time. If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of these young women, I would advise them to contact the Dickinson Police Department immediately. The phone number for the DPD is 701-456-7759.

Thank you.

UPDATE: Apparently, the Dickinson Police Department has forced the group to cancel their search party, which is probably a good idea considering how hastily it was thrown together. We don't need any more people getting lost. However, I am wondering what the DPD is planning as far as community volunteer-coordinated searches because they WILL happen, whether they like it or not.

UPDATE: It appears that the national news has picked up the story as well. If you'd like to view another picture of the girls and read another report, go HERE. Gemar's father called in for a telephone interview about the current circumstances surrounding the search.

UPDATE: The Press is REPORTING (following a morning news conference) that someone may have spotted the girls at the Buckskin Bar in Killdeer on Sunday night/early Monday morning although those reports have not, as of yet, been confirmed. It also reported that a dive search of Dickinson's Patterson Lake has concluded to no avail. Prayer services were held at Dickinson State last evening and comments have flooded the Dickinson Press article mentioned above. It appears as though locals are discouraged that the local authorities will not allow organized searching and are frustrated at the scant details they are being told from the local papers and Police Departments.

UPDATE: The DPD is also requesting that any professional searching agencies contact the Dickinson Police Department at the number provided above.

UPDATE: CBC news report HERE

UPDATE: National Guard and Customs are coming to the area to help search

UPDATE: The Dickinson Press's Sports Editor Dustin Monke has done a touching blog entry about the successful DSU athletic weekend, the discovery that the girls had gone missing and the campus prayer service that followed.

UPDATE: It appears as though the talented person who created this blog's header cartoon (Julie Neidlinger) is involved in the aerial search for the young ladies. Check out her blog post and picture HERE.

UPDATE: Those UND Sioux sports fans that are looking to voice their support or offer any knowledge can do so at THIS Siouxsports.com link.

UPDATE: Dickinson Press updated to include quote from local officials which states that "developments have been made" in case. A 3pm news conference had been scheduled but was later cancelled. Another news conference has been scheduled later tonight and, as the article states, shall provide a "resolution to the issue". I'm sorry, but that particular line does not sound good. I hope I'm wrong.

UPDATE: My wife just texted me to tell me that NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams may be doing a report on the missing girls tonight during their program. I haven't been able to see their scheduling lineup from the crude internet investigating that I've done, but just know that it's a possibility.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the girls have been discovered inside their vehicle. They had been submerged in a local stockpond. None of them have survived.