Police use sonar to search for body

WEST LAFAYETTE - State and Lafayette police joined forces using a new technology to find the missing body of Steven Lee Smith.

Police said Smith fell into the Wabash after his roommate, Wesley Kelly, hit him on December 6. Police used side-scan sonar on boats to conduct a 180 degree search under water.

Lafayette Police Detective Mike Humphery said the company, Aerial Image Corporation in the Purdue Research Park, and five volunteers helped look for the body. Aerial Image owner Sean Henady said the sonar technology works by taking an image of the bottom of the river. He said the Hummingbird 997 and 1197, both used for the search, paints a picture of the bottom of river by allowing crews to see debris like rocks and logs on bottom. If the sonar spots something, crews add add an underwater camera to takes still photos and video. All locations are tracked by GPS.

Mike Humphery aid State Police supplied a helicopter to fly over the river from West Lafayette to Attica as well.

Humphery said high water levels make search efforts a challenge.

"In terms of water level, it expands the area that we're having to look. Also, the currents moving a little quicker than it was a few days ago. It just sort of limits what the resources are able to do and what the personnel are able to do," said Humphery.

Humphery also said police will continue searching as long as the weather is clear. Wesley Kelly remains jailed on unrelated charges.