Search for 2 teens missing on Utah Lake will now ‘primarily’ be conducted by air

Sophia Hernandez and Priscilla Bienkowski. Photos: Utah County Sheriff's Office

UTAH COUNTY, Utah, May 10, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — A search for two teens missing since they went for an outing at Utah Lake on Wednesday will now “primarily” be conducted by air, officials said Sunday afternoon.

“This image (below) shows GPS tracks of boats and wave runners used thus far over four days on Utah Lake in the search for Priscilla Bienkowski and Sophia Hernandez,” said a tweet from Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff’s spokesman, at 1:30 p.m.

The area searched is about 3 x 2 miles. Water search will transition to primarily an air search for the next several days,” Cannon said.

It is believed Priscilla Bienkowski, 18, and Sophia Hernandez, 17, were planning to use an inflatable device designed for pool use to float on the lake when they were last seen Wednesday afternoon.

Strong winds came up, creating high waves and turbulence on the lake. The same conditions presented a challenge to searchers who went out at about 8 p.m. Wednesday after the girls’ parents reported them missing. Officers who were near the lake at the time described the conditions as “fierce.”

Map Courtesy Utah County Sheriffs Offic

Helicopters, searchers on horseback, boats with sonar capabilities, and divers have been used in the search for the teens.

A floatation device, a cell phone and car keys were located on the lake’s shore Saturday, but there we no other signs of the girls.

Officials are also asking that anyone who saw the two girls get in touch with officials.

“Investigators are asking anyone who saw Priscilla Bienkowski or Sophia Hernandez after 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, May 6, to contact us through Central Utah Dispatch at 801-794-3970,” a previous statement from Cannon said. “They are missing near The Knolls on the west side of Utah Lake.”

Gephardt Daily will update this story as more information is made available.

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