MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102

NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
11212-2
EMPHASIS: Missing Trooper's Body Recovered

Colonel Ronald K. Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the recovery of the body of Trooper Frederick F. “Fred” Guthrie Jr. On Thursday, January 12, 2012, at approximately 2:00 p.m. the body of Tpr. Guthrie was located in a brush pile south of where K-9 Reed was recovered near the original search site.

"The recovery of Tpr. Guthrie's body will give closure and comfort to the family, community, and members of the Patrol," said Col. Replogle. "I would also like to thank everyone who helped or volunteered during the search efforts."

“The law enforcement officers of Missouri put their lives on the line each day to protect us, and we saw that on countless occasions in the past year during times of natural disaster,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “Tpr. Fred Guthrie made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the people of Missouri, protecting them during the historic flooding that ravaged the northwest part of our state. We honor the memory of this courageous law enforcement officer, and our prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues as they mourn his loss. My thanks to the Highway Patrol and the other law enforcement agencies that were involved for all their efforts since August 1 to recover their fallen brother.”
“There is no higher calling than serving and protecting the public as Tpr. Guthrie did for 17 years,” said Department of Public Safety Director Jerry Lee. “I thank the Guthrie family for Trp. Guthrie’s brave and dedicated service, and know that the Highway Patrol will continue to support and comfort the Guthrie family.”
On August 1, 2011, Tpr. Guthrie and his Patrol K-9 Reed were working Missouri River flood duty in the area of Big Lake on Missouri Highway 118 at Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County, Missouri, when they were apparently swept away by swift flood water in the area. On Tuesday August 2, 2011, at approximately 6:25 p.m. the body of K-9 Reed was located in the water approximately 100 yards from where Tpr. Guthrie's Patrol truck and boat was located.


A Missouri Department of Transportation contractor, Hill Brothers Construction, Inc., recently began work to fill the scour hole on Highway 111. The Highway Patrol has had troopers at the construction site watching for any signs of Tpr. Guthrie’s remains as the work proceeded. The discovery of the remains was made as work took place today.

In November, the Patrol’s search of the same area had included large pumps, heavy equipment, cadaver dogs, and digging by hand. Previously, the Patrol’s search had used Patrol divers, dragged the flood waters, boat searches of the Missouri River, and ground searches of areas that had previously been flooded.

Tpr. Guthrie joined the then Missouri State Water Patrol on January 2, 1994, as a member of its 26th Recruit Class. He transitioned to trooper with the merger to the Highway Patrol on January 1, 2011, where he was assigned to Troop A serving Platte County.

Tpr. Guthrie was a combined 17-year-veteran between the two state agencies; K-9 Reed was a five-year-veteran. He was a native of Knob Noster, MO, where he graduated from high school in 1983. Tpr. Guthrie graduated from Central Missouri State University, now UCM, with a bachelor's of science degree in biology in 1993. Tpr. Guthrie is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughter, Amber, and sons, Dylan and Cody. Trooper Frederick F. "Fred" Guthrie Jr. is the 30th member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol to die in the line of duty.



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