Search for missing teenage brothers in Butte County's Thermalito Afterbay enters sixth day

OROVILLE, Calif. — Authorities continue to search for the bodies of teenage brothers, Andruw and Wesley Cornett, who disappeared early Saturday morning from Thermalito Afterbay in Butte County.

Butte County officials confirmed the search turned into a recovery mission.

April Clark, the boys’ mother, said crews in the water discovered a pair of pants Tuesday that she believes are her son Andruw’s.

KRCR spoke with Oroville resident and duck hunter Gary Deemer, who left to help with the search Tuesday, explaining he was familiar with the risks of hunting in the area.

“Every duck season they would drain that place, so the much lower water, probably 15 feet lower for duck hunting, was much safer. I don’t know about kids, but it’s a great resource for people who are just learning how to duck hunt or fish or whatever and it can get very dangerous out here,” Gary Deemer said.

Crews from across the Upstate joined the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in their efforts to recover the brothers, who never returned from duck hunting after their kayak overturned.

Thursday marks the sixth day of searching, and although community members have offered to help, Butte County Search and Rescue warns that having too many searchers in the water can contaminate search areas and pose risks to their own security.

Officials say they hope to find the boys soon and express thanks to the community for their understanding