Another party searching for teen inspects Jim Creek area

WASILLA — A second, privately organized search for missing David Grunwald took place in the Jim Creek area of Butte Tuesday.

Private investigator Brenda Paradise, working with the family and organizer of the first search Saturday afternoon, said like this one, Tuesday’s was leaked via social media. Paradise said that event, which drew a crowd of several hundred individuals wanting to help, didn’t turn up any new information or evidence.

Grunwald is a 16-year old junior at Mat-Su Career Tech High School. He was last seen Sunday evening after dropping his girlfriend off in Palmer. He called his mother afterwards telling her he might be a little later than the agreed to 9 p.m.

“We are getting some good leads, which we are turning over to Alaska State Troopers, but nothing solid,” Paradise said. “This very well could turn out to be a criminal case. We don’t want to interfere with law enforcement.”

Paradise said law enforcement agencies were notified of, and sanctioned the planned searches. She said many rumors have also been hitting social media sites. Paradise said rumors that police have found Grunwald’s body or that police are focusing in on one particular area are untrue.

“There are a lot of rumors out there on David. They are all rumors at this point,” Paradise said. “Police may have been out on unrelated case and people (are making assumptions).”

Grunwald’s 1995 full-sized, Eddie Bauer Edition Bronco was completely consumed by fire and found in Wasilla just before 12:45 p.m. Monday. Alaska State Troopers (AST) said there were no bodies in the vehicle found on Baldy Trail off Solitude Street and Sitze Road north of Wasilla. The vehicle was dark blue with white top and a tire on the rear carrier. It had a large circular decal on the drivers-side back window with a picture of a fish and the words “clean water”. It also had an “ALASKA GIRLS...ORGANIC” bumper sticker on the passenger side.

A new Facebook page has been set up seeking public input for any information on the case. The web address is https://www.facebook.com/finddavidgrunwald/?fref=ts .

Grunwald is approximately six feet tall, weighing 150-160 pounds, with bluish-green eyes, and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing an orange North Face hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and brown moccasin-type slippers.

Paradise is also asking for businesses and/or home owners with security cameras to review their footage during the above timeline. She said that footage may show Grunwald’s vehicle location and time.

Anyone with information on Grunwald, or spotting him or his vehicle in the area Sunday night into early Monday morning is asked to contact AST at 1-800-478-9333, 907-269-5497, Crimestoppers at 907-745-3333 or Paradise at 1-281-642-7299.