One Month Later, Search for Jon Franklin Continues on Meramec River

The family of a St. Charles man who went missing on the Meramec River nearly a month ago returns to the area this weekend to continue their search.

25-year-old Jon “Jay” Franklin was on a float trip with friends when he went missing near Eureka on May 31. Family, friends and community members participated in daily air, boat and foot searches during the first two weeks of his disappearance. Franklin’s family, who have since returned to their home in Peoria, come back to St. Louis on weekends to search.

While Route 66 Park has served as a base camp for search efforts over the past few weeks, focus this weekend will be on areas downriver, from Castlewood State Park south of Ballwin to Arnold.

“There was a great deal of land flooded for quite a while, especially in the George Winter Park area that we had not previously been able to search,” according to an update provided by search volunteers.

They’re asking residents interesting in joining the search effort to print off a flyer with Franklin’s info to show others. Flyers can be downloaded from the Bring Jon Franklin Home Facebook page.

Franklin has brown eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing green and white swim trunks.