 In this undated photo taken from the Dickinson State University athletics department web site, missing students Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba, Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont,Calif., and Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif. are shown. (AP/Dickinson State University)
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DICKINSON, N.D. - Authorities in southwestern North Dakota searched Monday for three Dickinson State University softball players reported missing after a friend received late night telephone calls that mentioned water and indicated the women needed help.
Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Man., Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont, Calif; and Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., were believed to be in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California plates when they were last heard from late Sunday night, authorities said.
Dickinson Police Lt. Dave Wallace said a friend of the women received two telephone calls from them, about one minute apart, before the line cut out. The exact words used in the calls and exactly which of the women they came from were not immediately released.
"Some place in that conversation, water was mentioned. What that context is, is speculation," Wallace said Monday night.
The friend who received the calls then called 911 to report that the women needed help.
Authorities used three airplanes and officers on the ground Monday to search within in a 48-kilometre radius of the cell phone tower north of Dickinson where the call came through. The search included Lake Patterson near Dickinson, which is about 158 kilometres west of Bismarck and 100 kilometres east of the Montana state line.
The air search was called off after dark with plans to resume Tuesday.
"Investigators are in the field as we speak, continuing to do interviews with friends, family and associates," Wallace said. "Nothing has been confirmed at this point, where we can say, 'Yes, they were here at this point."'
Wallace said relatives of the three women were expected in Dickinson by Tuesday.
Wallace refused to speculate on what might have happened and said nothing was being ruled out.
"Right now, we just have three missing young ladies," he said.
