09/19/2026
-The Search for Barry-
The best possible words at the end of any search are these:
He was found safe.
David “Barry” Colter is an 84-year-old gentleman living with dementia. When he disappeared from his home in Farmington, every passing hour mattered.
My involvement began with a simple text message from Tabitha, who follows Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue on Facebook:
“Do you guys search for humans?”
She and David Newell recognized that my experience and thermal-drone equipment might be useful, and they reached out directly to ask if I could help. That message opened the door for me to become part of a much larger search effort.
I spent several hours in Farmington, covering miles of ground around the entire city.
Private individuals and organizations such as Eye in the Sky are not typically included in emergency-service operations. That is why I am so incredibly thankful that Tabitha and David thought to contact me—and that the Farmington Police Department, the mayor of Farmington and others involved considered me a resource, trusted my experience and welcomed me into the search.
For four days, law enforcement, fire personnel, search-and-rescue teams, emergency agencies and members of the community worked toward one shared goal: finding Barry.
In the end, Barry was found by a citizen who heard something unusual.
It would have been easy to dismiss. It could have been explained away as nothing—just another sound that did not belong, but did not seem important enough to investigate.
But this person noticed that something was different. Something was unexpected. And instead of walking away, they chose to look.
That decision saved a life.
Searches like this are built upon enormous efforts, specialized equipment, long hours and miles of ground covered. But sometimes the outcome comes down to the smallest detail—a faint sound, a moment of awareness or the willingness of one person to stop and investigate something others might have dismissed.
My role was only one part of a much larger, coordinated effort. I am deeply grateful that my real-world thermal-drone experience, built through hundreds of searches, was recognized as a resource and welcomed into this effort.
Thank you to the Farmington Police Department, the mayor and every agency, organization and individual who searched, followed leads, shared verified information, provided resources or supported Barry’s family through four incredibly difficult days.
Thank you to Tabitha and David Newell for thinking of Eye in the Sky and reaching out.
And thank you to Mr. Kirby who noticed something unusual—and acted.
I believe we all have a responsibility to use whatever talents, experience and resources we have to help those who need us. Sometimes that means bringing specialized equipment and years of experience.
Sometimes it simply means paying attention.
In Farmington, both mattered.
Barry was found safe.