Family isn't giving up

KAMAS — As the third day turned into the fourth night of searching for an 11-year-old Bountiful boy missing in the High Uintas, his family held out hope he will be found alive.

They know, however, the chances of survival without food or water for three days are slim.

They hope he will apply lessons from his father, who is an avid outdoorsman. But they know if Brennan Hawkins hits a point of exhaustion, he may be too weak to call out to the hundreds of people looking for him.

"Nights are extremely hard for Toby and Jody (Hawkins)," family spokesman Bob Hawkins said of Brennan's parents. "You know that's when Brennan is most vulnerable."

In Bountiful, neighbors, classmates and teachers from the Hawkins family's community gathered at Leo J. Muir Elementary to show their support by tying yellow ribbons along the route from the I-15 exit to Brennan's home.

"I want him to be back to school next year," said Natalie Wilson, a 10-year-old classmate of Brennan's. She and her mother organized the gathering as a way for the community to be involved.

"We felt so frustrated yesterday because we couldn't all go up there to search," said Kirsten Wilson. "This is a way we can show the Hawkins that we care about them."

More than 100 participants tied yellow ribbons around posts, trees and road signs and plastered fliers along the road.

"We need to get Brennan's face everywhere," Wilson said. "If he's going to be missing for a while, people need to remember his face."

Bruce Davis, the bishop of the family's LDS Church ward, has been helping in the search effort for the past three days. He said Brennan's parents are distraught but "they're strong, and they know of the support behind them."

A prayer was offered in Brennan's behalf, and those in attendance were asked to keep him and the search effort continually in their hearts and minds.

Toby and Jody Hawkins spent Monday's search for their son with significantly fewer volunteers — about 675 — than they had Sunday, when about 3,000 people joined the search at the East Fork of the Bear River Scout Camp.

Brennan Hawkins was at the camp with a friend Friday when they took advantage of the camp's practice climbing wall.