x
Breaking News
More () »

Search for 6-year-old girl swept away in Tonto Basin creek stretches into second week

Willa Rawlings has been missing since Nov. 29.

The search for a 6-year-old girl who went missing after a vehicle was swept up in a creek in Tonto Basin has stretched into a second week. 

Willa Rawlings has been missing since Nov. 29. She was one of nine family members in a military-style truck that became stuck while trying to cross Tonto Creek. 

Austin Rawlings and Colby Rawlings, both 5, died in the incident. Authorities said Thursday that the search for Willa is a recovery effort. 

PREVIOUSLY: Search for 6-year-old girl swept away in creek at Tonto Basin now a recovery effort

The Gila County Sheriff's Office said Saturday that there were 60 crew members looking for Willa. Volunteers were also searching for the young girl. 

Boats, six dog teams, drones, ground crews and divers were among the group searching between Bar X Crossing and the Beaver Dam. 

RELATED: Tonto Basin residents asked for a bridge years before fatal flooding

Divers have been searching deeper areas under debris at the Beaver Dam and the levee at A Crossing. 

The search for Willa has stretched from the point where Willa, Austin and Colby were swept away to Roosevelt Lake. 

It has been made more difficult due to the thick brush in the area and rain, causing problems, limiting search efforts and creating dangerous conditions. 

Some crews had to be pulled off the search for Willa after the body of a man who tried to cross Tonto Creek about 20 miles north of Bar X Crossing was found Saturday. 

Credit: Gila County Sheriff's Office

The man was later identified as 69-year-old Robert George Petitte.

He tried to cross the creek in the Tonto Creek Shores, authorities said Saturday. 

Credit: Gila County Sheriff's Office

Officials believe Petitte got out of his vehicle and was swept away. His body was found about 200 yards from his vehicle on an island in the creek.

RELATED: Weekend at Arizona ski resorts: Snowbowl now 100% open while Sunrise raises money for Rawlings family

Before You Leave, Check This Out