LEWISBURG, Tenn. – Police have been searching for an evangelist missing for more than 24 hours in Marshall County.
Evangelist David Dickinson, age 49, was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Monday, when his wife told investigators he walked out of a camper set up behind the New Life Tabernacle on Fox Lane in Lewisburg.
When he didn't show up for a scheduled event at the church Monday evening, police were called in to help. Dickinson was in town with his wife and two children. He was visiting from Kentucky and was scheduled to speak all week long for a revival.
"When he left he just said ‘I love you' and I told him I loved him. Those were our last words," said his wife Tammy.
Search and rescue teams with K-9 units canvassed a somewhat wooded area near the church for several hours Monday night.
They were back on the scene Tuesday morning. Both the Lewisburg Police and Fire Departments were helping with the search.
On Tuesday, crews searched a one mile radius from the church. A helicopter was out earlier looking for any traces of the evangelist.
"He might just be injured and can't make it out of the woods himself. That's what we're hoping for," said Chief Ricky Cozart with the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department.
So far, police received two tips of potential sightings. One was on Cornersville Highway around 8 a.m. Monday.
The other was Monday afternoon off Highway 31A in Chapel Hill, about 15 miles away.
Officials said Dickinson left behind his wallet and identification. He may have taken his cell phone with him, but police said there has been no activity on it since Sunday night, and it was believed to have been turned off.
"Call us and let us know if anybody's seen him or knows where he is because we love him and miss him," his wife added.
Dickinson is from Elkton, Kentucky. His family has come down to provide support to his wife and two young children.
Dickinson has been described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighs around 265 pounds. Anyone with information should call the Lewisburg Police Department.
