By Debbie Williams Reporter
Published: Fri, April 18, 2008 - 6:20 pm
Last Updated: Fri, April 18, 2008 - 8:14 pm
Last Updated: Fri, April 18, 2008 - 8:14 pm
Debbie Williams
Carrying a photograph and relying on her Navajo heritage, Alberta Wanika is trying to find her son.
"I want to see him, to hold him, to hug him. I love my son. Please," she pleads crying.
Craig Hoskie has been missing for a week. It's believed he drowned during a midnight swim last weekend.
Since then searchers have scoured Pensacola Beach looking for any sign of him.
"He said he is alive, what the medicine man say he didn't go to the beach he went to another place on foot."
Two meetings with the medicine man has given Wanika hope. "He's alive. He's with a young lady hopefully he's with that young lady and she's taking care of him."
While the family still clings to hope, every indication is he is in the water. The search remains concentrated in the Pensacola Beach area but alerts have been sent as far west as Mississippi.
"I just want him back right now." Younger brother Kevin respects the families culture but knows there's a good chance his brother won't be coming home. He's searching for something else, "I'm looking for any miracle."
Searchers look from Pensacola Beach west to the Alabama line every day. So far, there's no sign of Hoskie.
The Coast Guard, Navy and Escambia County Sheriff's Office are all taking part in that search.
Enlarge Video 
Download Video
Video RSS
AIUA A.K.A. The Beach Pool
News Map
Email to a Friend 
Printer Friendly 
Recently Commented On