It had been a relatively quiet day down at the Latin County Sheriff's Office when the

call came in on that unforgettable Saturday of October 17, 2009. A group of deer hunters

making their way down Oklahoma's Panola Mountain in the Sands Boys mountain range had spotted

a white pickup truck parked by the side of the road which hadn't moved all day. Since

the area was popular with hunters and also close to a number of gas wells that were in need

of occasional maintenance, it wasn't unusual to see vehicles parked up there in unlikely

locations but something about this truck just didn't quite fit. Going over to take a closer look,

they were surprised to find a small black and white dog lying on the back seat that seemed

strangely lethargic. It might be nothing they explained to the sheriff's office but if the dog

was left inside any longer there was a good chance it could be in serious trouble. Sheriff Israel

Bo Shump knew the location well as a particularly dense and rugged track of local woodland. Not the

sort of place you might go for a casual hike for example but considering a dog had been left on

the back seat there was little to suggest that the truck's owners wouldn't be coming back anytime soon.

That was until a second call came through later that afternoon confirming that in actual fact

the truck hadn't been sat there for a few hours but rather days. You're listening to one

explained and I'm Richard McLean Smith.

It was early evening by the time to patrol cars carrying Sheriff Bo Shump,

under Sheriff Matt Bone and several other officers from Latimer County Sheriff's Office set off

toward Panola Mountain. Making their way north heading ever deeper into the Sambois mountains

they soon found the white pickup. Located high into the mountain roughly a third of the way

between the towns of Panola and Kinter. Having pulled up alongside it the officers stepped out into

the fast cooling air and made their way over to the vehicle. With their first concern being for

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