Hernando search called off for missing pilot

HERNANDO COUNTY – After a full day of searching the Withlacoochee State Forest on Saturday, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and other area agencies called off the ground search for missing pilot Theodore “Teddy” Weiss of Zephyrhills.

Weiss, 74, was last seen a week earlier taking off from the Dunnellon Airport on the afternoon of April 5.

He was reported as a missing person on Monday, and crews began searching the area of Trail 10 in Citrus County on Monday, the area where his plane was last mapped.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office joined in the search on Tuesday, and sent a helicopter, ATVs, patrol deputies, mounted patrol and canine units to scour the dense woods for the Weiss and his plane.

Hernando took over as lead agency on Friday and Saturday as the search extended south into the county.

The ground search was suspended after six days of searching the forest.

Public Information Officer Denise Moloney said crews searched 11.5 square miles on Friday and 8.5 square miles on Saturday.

Moloney said the search was called off because the multiple agencies involved felt they had “exhausted” their efforts and “diligently searched” the area. Air patrols will continue, and any requests to search the ground will be pursued as needed.