Chris Stasiak

Area fire departments and emergency personnel are still searching for a 44-year-old Dupo man who reportedly went missing Monday afternoon after he was dropped off to hunt in the woods near Cahokia.

There has been no contact with the bow hunter, Chris Stasiak, since he was dropped off in the 1100 block of State Route 3 around 1 p.m. Monday. His family had expected to hear from him before nightfall. Stasiak was reported missing late Monday night.

The Cahokia Fire Department received assistance from Illinois State Police, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit and area fire departments, including Columbia, in addition to other agencies and volunteers. Crews used a helicopter with night vision Monday night into Tuesday while a thermal K-9 team searched on the ground. Temperatures have dropped into the low 20s at night, but Stasiak was believed to be dressed in cold weather gear.

Crews searched the wooded and swampy canal area from Route 3 and Water Street south to Prairies Golf Course, to no avail. Emergency personnel continued search efforts throughout the week, with helicopters conducting air searches over the last known location of the missing hunter and search dogs scouring the area.

Anyone with any information on Stasiak’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department or local authorities.

On Friday, the Belleville News-Democrat reported that St. Clair County court records indicate Stasiak’s license was suspended and a warrant had recently been issued for his arrest after he had failed to pay court fees associated with a 2013 DUI case.