A search for a missing hunter who was thought to be possibly kidnapped ended without incident Sunday morning.

 

Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell said in a press release Monday his office received a call after 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon from the brother of 54-year old Terry Harrington of Vidor, stating that Harrington had been hunting off of County Road 1012 and started texting him about persons holding him hostage.

 

The multi-agency search involved Sheriff's deputies, investigators, a Texas Department of Correction K-9 Unit, Shelby County Game Wardens, Texas Rangers and a number of volunteers from Shelby County and Vidor assisted in searching the area off of U.S. Hwy. 96 south near the county line.

 

The search continued all night Saturday until 5:30 a.m. Sunday, and resumed a few hours later.

 

Sheriff Blackwell said at approximately 10:20 a.m. Sunday, Terry Harrington was located, safe but extremely confused. He was released to his family.

 

Sheriff Blackwell thanks all involved in the search, thankfully with a good outcome.

 

The sheriff said the search was difficult for many reasons, primarily due to safety concerns with searchers being in the woods and deer hunters not knowing they were in the area.

 

Sheriff Blackwell said there was complete cooperation among all agencies.