Family Missing; Police Search for Survivalist Family After Child Abuse Allegations

An abandoned car found on an isolated road in the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota prompted authorities to begin a search for an entire missing Nebraska family that has not been seen since March 20. The vehicle was found about 400 miles north of their home in Creighton, Nebraska. Police believe that it is the intention of Schade that he and his family not be found.

According to the Associated Press, Matthew Schade, 26, and Rowena Schade, 29, are believed to be in the company of their two children, Devon, 11, and Sean, 8. The same day the family was last seen and presumably went missing, authorities had questioned the all four family members about allegations of child abuse. No charges were filed, although counseling was suggested and offered, but Matthew Schade's disappearance gave Nebraska officials cause to issue an arrest warrant for Schade's arrest for breaking probation for burglary. Rowena Schade also was on probation, but Knox County authorities would not elaborate.

Maj. Brian Mueller of the Pennington County Sheriff's office told the Associated Press, "We believe their intention is not to be found so we have to structure our search teams differently to make sure we have law enforcement on them. It's pretty rugged terrain in there."

Schade and his wife honeymooned in the Black Hills and had talked about relocating there. Schade also attended a survivalist camp through his church in the search area six straight years and had mentioned he would like to live like a hermit in the mountains. Authorities believe that the Schades left their Nebraska home in a hurry, taking with them camping gear they had recently purchased.

With Matthew Schade's survivalist background, finding the family could be difficult in the rough Black Hills terrain. Survivalists train to be self-dependant and self-sufficient, living with and off of their environmnent. According to AsoluteAstronomy.com, survivalism is a preparedness lifestyle stems from the belief that there is a potential for widespread social collapse from man-made or natural disasters, or that there exists the potential that an oppressive, malignant government will one day seize control, eliminating individual rights. Some survivalists train with a paramilitary slant, although this is not always the case. Many suvivalist ideologies include "end-of-the-world" scenarios. Many are also coupled with apocalyptic religious beliefs.

Matthew Schade's brand of survivalism seems to be a form of the latter, since much of his survivalist training coming from a camp he has attended through his church.

The vehicle, a black Ford Tauraus, was discovered Tuesday. Law enforcement coordinated searches in the area Wednesday and Thursday. Mueller said that the search covered numerous abandoned mines, some cabins and other buildings in the isolated Pactola Reservoir area. He said meadows and creek beds that would serve well as a camp were also investigated.

Two feet of snow has fallen in the area where the vehicle was abandoned in the last couple weeks.

Depending upon Matthew Schade's skills in surviving, the family may not be in any imminent danger. However, if his skills are minimal, given the harsh conditions of the area, exposure to the elements could become problematic, even life-endangering. If the children were to succumb to the environment, child abuse allegations would become the least of Matthew and Rowena Schade's problems.

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Source:

Associated Press

AbsoluteAstronomy.com