Former Laker quarterback still missing

Ryan Jarvi

The search continues for Grand Valley State University’s former championship quarterback who was reported missing Sunday night.

Cullen Finnerty, 30, was fishing along the Baldwin River near Baldwin, Mich., about 65 miles north of Grand Rapids when he vanished leaving behind few clues. Authorities said he was dropped off by family members near Bray Creek State Forest Campground, close to where Finnerty’s family owns a cabin.

Lake County Sheriff Robert Hilts told the AP that Finnerty’s family members were worried he “might be having some kind of a mental episode,” which may have caused him to flee into the woods.

Dennis Robinson, Lake County undersheriff, told the Ludington Daily News, “He talked to his wife on the phone and told her he had concerns about people following him and he was getting off the river.”

So far the only trace of Finnerty is a small pontoon boat that he was using to fish, but authorities were tracking Finnerty’s cell phone until “it went dead,” the AP reported.

The last signal tracked was 11 miles north of where he was last seen and search crews are investigating that area, MLive reported.

Finnerty led the Lakers to NCAA Division II championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Current players and staff of GVSU’s football team have joined the search alongside authorities, and a Michigan State Police helicopter, many local firefighters and other volunteers have also been involved.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s office, at (231) 745-2711.

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