PRESS RELEASE
FROM: The Burnett and Polk County Sheriff’s Departments
MISSING: Keith Thomas Kennedy
12/19/1982 – Age 25
Minneapolis, MN

Law Enforcement are asking for volunteers to search the rural area of southern Burnett and northern Polk Counties.

Keith Kennedy continues to be missing since he walked away from a campground in Anderson Township on Sunday evening.

Keith Kennedy is a 25-year-old autistic and medically fragile male. Officers are asking volunteers to report to the Trade Lake Campground located at 20872 State Highway 87, approximately eight miles south of Grantsburg or 20 miles north of St.Croix Falls.

The search will resume at 7:00 am on Friday, June 20th and continue throughout the day. The area to be searched is undeveloped land consisting of dense woods, lowlands and wetlands.

Volunteers are cautioned to dress with sturdy, protective clothing and bring sunscreen, gloves and bug spray.

Sheriff Roland acknowledges that, although unlikely, it is possible that Keith was picked up by a passing vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to report it to the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department
at 715-349-2128.

ORIGINAL STORY:
Hundreds of people searched for a missing autistic man in Burnett County Wednesday. 25-year-old Keith Kennedy disappeared from the Trade Lake Camp near Grantsburg, Wisconsin Sunday night.

"Nobody saw him leave. So they assume he either ran or walked away, but nobody saw him," said Linda Kennedy, Keith's mother.

Doctors say Keith has missed at least five doses of his anti-rejection medication. He's taken it since he got a kidney from his dad 13 years ago.

"The idea is that the medication keeps the body from rejecting the kidney. Generally, the body starts to reject the kidney, the kidney goes into kidney failure," Kennedy said.

People searched on foot and on horseback around the camp. They're especially worried he may not be able to respond if they get close, because of his limited communication skills.

"We're learning and it's hard and we're going to find him. That's what we're going to do," said Elizabeth Rowan, also a volunteer searcher.

Kennedy says Keith enjoys music, having someone read to him and cooking with the microwave.

"He's just a wonderful young man and brought incredible joy. He has a lot of challenges. It's been a real roller coaster being his mom, but what a ride," she adds.

If you want to help in the search, you can call the camp at: 715.488.2690.