Authorities including the Hillsboro Fire Department conducted a search Oct. 19 for a Mexican native missing for over one week.

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with LaCrosse Police Department, and the  LaCrosse County Sheriff’s Office, have been investigating tips and calls from the public and concerned citizens regarding the whereabouts of  Goudensio Gayton since his disappearance Oct. 12.

The Sheriff’s Office has received calls regarding sightings of Gayton along Hwy. 35 south of  LaCrosse and along Co. Hwy. K from Hwy. 35, east to the area of Hamburg Ridge Road and Brinkman Ridge Road in Hamburg township in Vernon County.

Multiple searches have been conducted area by law enforcement, fire  department members, first responders, the public and local land owners, as well as K-9 units.

On Oct. 18, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Chris Schubert, who resides in Hamburg township. While viewing photos from one of his game cameras, Schubert found several pictures of Gayton dated Oct. 12–the day Gayton went missing.

The timeline indicated the photos were taken at 7:23 p.m. The camera was located approximately two miles from Co. Hwy. K, along a wood line, one mile from the Schubert home.

A search of the area was immediately conducted using K-9’s and the Coon Valley Fire Department and Law Enforcement personnel.  The search continued until dark, with teams unable to locate  Gayton.

Vernon County Sheriff John Spears contacted local fire departments for a larger search effort to begin Oct. 19  in that area.

Eight fire departments, including those from Viroqua, Westby, Viola, Coon Valley, Genoa, LaFarge, Hillsboro, and Ontario, participated, as well as Vernon County Emergency Management, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol, Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Gunderson Tri-State Ambulance, bloodhound “Peach” and Tim Devine of LaCrosse County and bloodhound   “Beckitt” and Diana Gwilt of Vernon County Search and Rescue.

Gayton was not located.

Spears is urging all sportsmen, hunters and land owners in the area to check their game cameras for any possible sightings of  Gayton and is asking for the media’s help in locating him.

He was last seen wearing dress shoes, blue pants, black leather jacket and a white cowboy hat. He is 5’ tall, with grey facial hair and does not speak any English.

If anyone has any information regarding Gayton, contact the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office or the LaCrosse Police Department.