Dale Sims, Gerry Manley's mother, and Brad Dennis, director of search operations for the KlaasKids Foundation, talk about the search areas Friday in hopes one of the search teams

    In her heart Dale Sims hopes her son is alive. But her common sense tells her otherwise.

    “I think the volunteers are searching for Gerry’s body,” said Sims quietly as a search team received their briefing on the area they would look for any signs of the 24-year old Meridian man. “I keep holding out hope, though, we’ll find him alive.”

    Gerry Manley disappeared Feb. 12 after being seen at the Philadelphia Wal-Mart. Sims has said it was as if he just vanished into thin air. Law enforcement agencies as well as family and friends have conducted numerous searches for Manley with no results. Sims said the people her son was with the night he disappeared have been interviewed but none of the information they provided has resulted in her son being found.

    Now a nationally recognized organization that coordinates searches for missing children have come to the aid of Sims. Brad Dennis, director of search operations for the KlaasKids Foundation headquartered in Sausalito, Calif., said they are here in Collinsville on behalf of Sims’ request to help find her son. Normally the organization is involved with trying to locate much younger victims but in some cases, and if they are not needed elsewhere, they tackle searches for older victims. Sims is glad they have taken on her case.

    “I’ve been needing someone to come in and care enough to do a big search and the foundation has given me the support and organization to do that,” said Sims. “We’ve got the manpower now to do good searches and hopefully find Gerry.”

    As of 9 p.m. Friday the temperature outside was creeping up to 90 degrees. A half dozen volunteers, a part of about 50 who signed up Friday morning, were briefed. They were told they were going to search a particular area along Highway 19 North between Meridian and Philadelphia near the House community. Armed with plenty of water, bug spray, an ATV and other essentials, the team prepared to embark on what promised to be a hot trek along the ditches and side roads.

    Jamie Sims was just one member of the group. He knows Gerry well after Dale Sims married his cousin. He said he felt blessed just to be able to help.

    “I know Gerry pretty well and I just wanted to help in any way I could,” Jamie Sims said, sporting a fluorescent KlaasKids Foundation safety vest. “I hope one of these teams will be able to give Dale some closure on this.”

    Standing in the banquet room of the church, Dennis noted Dale Sims was trying to keep herself busy with little tasks. He said it was important to keep her at the command center so the volunteers could meet her face to face. Plus, Dennis said Sims doesn’t need to be out near a search team if her son is found.

    “Part of our job is to support her here as well as organize and conduct the team searches,” said Dennis. “We hope we can do some good here.”

    If nothing was found Friday, Dennis said the searches would continue today. If you are interested in volunteering your time to the search for Gerry Manley you can go by the First Baptist Church in Collinsville between 8 a.m. and noon to sign up. If you have any information pertaining to Manley, you are urged to contact your nearest law enforcement agency.