A family member says Rodney Ferguson knew how to survive in the outdoors, making his disappearance along with two friends in Saginaw Bay even more bizarre.
Ferguson, 37, of Ortonville and his brother Brian Ferguson, 42 of Prichard W.V. along with Mark Adkins, Sr. 41 from Imlay City were onboard a 17-foot Tracker Bass boat that left from Bay Shore Marina, on the southeast shore of Saginaw Bay on April 29.
According to Huron County Sheriff reports, a family member reported the trio missing late Saturday night April 29. Shortly after noon on April 30 a Coast Guard helicopter located the boat adrift approximately 3 miles east of Standish on the west side of Saginaw Bay. The boat was later towed to Sebewaing, Mich. where deputies inspected the boat. The battery was dead, about five gallons of gas was in the tank and all safety equipment required by law was onboard including life preservers. Family members told deputies that all men had cells phones but only one was found on board when the boat was located on Sunday.
‘Our search now has shifted from a rescue to a body recovery of the three men,? said Huron County Sheriff Kent Tibbits on May 4.
Since then a search area of about 150 square miles on the east side of Saginaw Bay west of the islands has been covered by a variety of volunteers, Coast Guard and law enforcement.
‘He loved to fish, camp and boat,? said Crystal Kirby of Attica Mich., who along with Rodney Ferguson have a daughter together. ‘We pretty sure he’s gone but we do still have a little bit of hope. They just seemed to disappear.?
A native of Columbus Ohio, Rodney Ferguson moved with his family to West Virginia where he lived for several years before moving back to Columbus. He relocated to Brandon Township about three years ago to be near his 17-year-old daughter Amanda Adkins, a resident of Attica, Mich. where she attends Venture High School. Ferguson worked as a digitizer and machinist at DaimlerChrysler Tech. Center in Auburn Hills for the past two years and lived near a small lake in Brandon Township.
‘He was a great father,? said Kirby. He was always doing something with Amanda, like taking her to the movies or camping. Amanda was his life. He was easygoing and would do anything for anybody, he lived for her. Amanda had been with him at his house in Ortonville and often traveled between our homes.?
Amanda Adkins attended Brandon High School from October 2004 to June 2005 before moving to Imlay City.
‘Dad said, ‘if it was not for me he’d be living on a mountain somewhere,? he was an outdoor kind of guy,? said Adkins. ‘He was very creative and loved to read, he visited the Brandon Township Library all the time for books.?
Both Adkins and Kirby agree that Ferguson’s disappearance is unusual for a man with his outdoors skills.
Ferguson, Kirby and Amanda lived for several years in rural West Virginia and recalled his survival skills.
‘We lived out in the county in the small town of Lavalettee, West Virginia,? said Kirby. ‘Rodney had just completed survival classes and learned how to live off the land. They taught him, how build fires without matches and to stay afloat if in the water. He could catch fish with his bare hands. That’s what’s so odd about this story, he could take care of himself in the outdoors.?
Kirby said reports from the Huron County Sheriff Office included the boat was not anchored, the motor key was in the ‘on? position, the throttle was low.
‘It just don’t make sense. One of them would have anchored the boat, they all were experienced fisherman and knew the waters of Saginaw Bay.?
Rodney had a video camera and took some video just before noon with Brian Ferguson in a passenger seat and Mark Adkins operating the boat, the water was claim, they did not appear to be drunk and just having a good time, according to sheriff reports.
‘They were all great friends, just out fishing on Saturday in Saginaw Bay.?