Pennsylvania state troopers spent Tuesday searching Memorial Lake in Lebanon County for the body of Kortne Stouffer who vanished almost 2 years ago. Troopers used cadaver dogs as well as a boat outfitted with sonar and an underwater camera, but were unable to find her.
Kortne’s grandmother, Maryann Smith, said “I know it’s been tough for her mom and dad.” She watched as troopers searched the lake for any sign of her granddaughter. Smith has been feeling the pain of not knowing what happened to Kortne since she disappeared from her Palmyra apartment in July of 2012. It’s a feeling shared with Kortne’s parents. “They do need closure. I think that would help with the pain” said Smith.
Troopers started searching around 9AM and called the search off around 2PM. “I’m very happy to see them out here. I’m happy that all the people have taken an interest in finding her” said Maryann.
The search comes after a friend of Kortne’s reportedly came forward with information that her body may have been dumped in Memorial Lake, but Smith said she prays that’s not the case. “You do your own conclusions, you do your own dreaming. At night when I’m sleeping I have dreams of where she might be” said Smith.
Members of the search team would not confirm whether they have plans to come out to search the lake again.