This weekend will be exactly three weeks since the news about the missing person in the center of Vilnius 15-year-old Mykola Davidonis. So far, the parents, the police, a large group of volunteers and canine experts have searched for the young man, but he has not appeared. As the weekend approaches, his father Mindaugas Davidonis shared the planned new search strategy, which is mostly focused on the search on the river bank.
Falling snow and cold temperatures forced volunteers and special agencies to slow down the search for Mykolos. Mykolas’ father, Mindaugas Davidonis, says that he is currently concentrating more on preparing for the weekend search.
“Perhaps more precisely, we are preparing more for Sunday, because bad weather is predicted for tomorrow as well. We put together the technical part, we decide. Thanks to everyone who helps, contributes with technology. It is encouraging that it is not decreasing, but increasing. The fleet also contributes, and people from Pakruoj come with their equipment. Coastal areas are our highest priority right now,” he says.
Since now the greatest attention is currently focused on the river and searches in it, M. Davidonis says that what is most needed are specialists who are able to manage not only a boat in the river, but also know how to handle sonars and follow the details captured by them.
Although the bad weather hinders the search efficiency, there is no intention to stop. In turn, both police officers and the Fire Protection and Rescue Department are looking for Mykolo.
When asked if he had received new information from the investigators and police officers, Mindaugas says that he has received their confirmation that the search for his son continues persistently:
“I know they are working, examining different versions. There is no doubt that they are working, they have confirmed it themselves that there is an investigation. I can’t comment on how and who, because I don’t really know what stage the police are at, what they manage to find out. I guess if there was something more to hang on to, I would be informed as well.”
However, the Fire Protection and Rescue Department had to suspend the search today. Bad weather is said to be an obstacle. M. Davidonis says that he has communicated with the rescuers for a long time.
“They search according to their model, they probably don’t do it every day anymore.” The next phase I think should start in three weeks, which is already tomorrow. They likely aren’t done searching yet, but they don’t swim every day either. They have their own strategies for when to activate the search and when to pause,” says Dad.
Requests water drones, sonars
Volunteers of the Lithuanian Red Cross Society also joined the search for the missing Mykolas Davidonis, who also combed land areas and river banks.
Although the society’s volunteers are no longer invited to physical searches since last week, the organization continues to coordinate the search for Mykolo with water drones and sonar. The person responsible for them, Danguolė Kikutytė, told the news portal tv3.lt yesterday:
“The Lithuanian Red Cross continues to supervise the search. <...> The organization’s assistance to the family in coordinating the search has certainly not been stopped, we coordinated the search with drones in the air, now we are coordinating the search in the water, as far as the weather conditions allow.”
Most of all, according to her, there is currently a lack of people who could help Mykolo search for water with drones and sonar. Even the fishing community has been approached about sonars.
“Persons with aerial drones joined the search with great desire and we checked efficiently. Now we are paying the most attention underwater, because there are still many places that have not been tested,” said D. Kikutytė.
The search for the missing Mykolos continues
(12 photos)
The greatest attention in the approaches to the river from Vilnius to Kaunas is given to those places that are marked on a special map – where drownings are found and stuck. The request to respond to persons who have sonars and are able to operate them was also heard in the “Search for Mykolos” group:
“We are continuing Mykolo’s search in the water, we are looking for a volunteer who can join the search team in the water this weekend, who should and knows how to manage sonar.
I believe there are definitely some in our group if you know them sonar share this message with him. Thank you for the help.”
D. Kikutytė also reminded that volunteers with drones can continue to join the search, who can independently check the territories that have not been checked by other drones. In order to participate in searches, it is necessary to fill out the form: https://bit.ly/3lYXjCG.
After self-inspection of the territory with water drones, it is also necessary to fill out the questionnaire: https://bit.ly/3YVrV6y.
Disappeared after leaving the birthday party
News portal tv3.lt reminds that on February 5 a cry for help from a Vilnius woman spread on social networks to help find her 15-year-old son Mykola Davidonis. The boy is said to have disappeared on his way home from a friend’s birthday party.
As it turned out later, the guy got off at the Kražiai stop in the center of Vilnius, near Lukiškių Square, on February 4, just after 4:00 p.m., and walked along the river towards the Opera and Ballet Theater.
Even further, near the Žirmūnai bridge, things belonging to the boy were discovered. After 6 p.m. the missing guy did not answer the calls, and around 9 p.m. his phone was already switched off – likely a dead battery.
The mother of the missing young man, Ieva Davidonienė, told the news portal tv3.lt that he could have been in this place for about 4 hours – from 4 to 8 p.m.
She urged anyone who has seen the boy or has useful information to call the numbers +37061216174 or 112 and share the message on social networks.
I. Davidonienė also described her son’s appearance: “Dressed: dark blue jacket, black pants, blue shoes. He had a dark green (khaki) backpack with him.”
Later, some details of his appearance were also clarified – it is announced that the guy’s hair is curly, blond, he was wearing dark blue jeans and a green striped sweater, and he was wearing blue high-heeled shoes.
The guy has a slim body, weighs about 60-70 kilograms, and his height is 178 cm.
The news that the young man’s belongings – a jacket and a backpack – were found near the Žirmūnai Bridge is disturbing. The 15-year-old’s headphone case, headphones, bank card and phone were also found near the bridge. Various versions of the incident are being investigated.
You can contribute to the search for the missing 15-year-old in the Facebook group “Finding Mykolo” by clicking here.
