Police: ‘Leads have been exhausted’ in search for missing Berkshire County woman

Wooded area in Lenox focus of search for missing woman

Tonight, we have new details on the search for a woman missing from Lenox in Berkshire County.

The massive search for a missing Berkshire County woman has so far turned up no sign of her.

NewsChannel 13’s media partners at The Berkshire Eagle first reported that Susan Lockwood of Richmond, Massachusetts was last seen on Monday, Oct. 30.

Lockwood’s hat was found near her abandoned car in the area of a popular overlook and cliff of Lenox Mountain on the day she went missing.

“We located an article of her clothing that was identified by her family members and the canines alerted in that area, and we thought we might’ve had a good area to search, but unfortunately, we were unsuccessful that day,” said Chief Stephen O’Brien.

Since then, rescue teams have rappelled down the overlook and used drones to search. A Massachusetts State Police helicopter helping search, with enhanced Wi-Fi brought in to help crews in the remote area.  

Lenox Fire Chief Christopher O’Brien and Police Chief Stephen O’Brien are brothers whose departments have led the search to find her. Massachusetts State Police are leading the investigation into what happened.

Since then, technical rescue teams have rappelled down the overlook to search.

A Massachusetts State Police helicopter helped search, along with state police canines and an emergency response team, with drones and enhanced Wi-Fi brought in by the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office to help crews in the remote area.  

“If we had a lead to go on, and we had an area, we would resume the search, but as of right now, all the leads have been exhausted,” said Chief Christopher O’Brien.

Police don’t suspect foul play. The husband of the retired nurse, Dan Davison, told the Berkshire Eagle his wife was trying to get help as she struggled with her mental health. He said she was on the waiting list for treatment at Berkshire Medical Center, which was a month long.

It’s a problem police and EMS in Lenox tell NewsChannel 13 they have seen grow. They said calls for mental health have increased dramatically since the pandemic. Treatment facilities struggle to accommodate the volume of patients.

“A lot of places are full and they can’t get the help. A lot of people choose, they agree to get some help but as they sit, and they think about it, they walk out, and we deal with them again on a recurring basis. It’s a good message to get out. Tough way to get the message out, but it shows the need for people that need help that struggle with mental illness,” said Chief Christopher O’Brien.

Massachusetts State Police are leading the investigation. Police said volunteer search and rescue teams from the Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue will be out conducting searches later this week.

NewsChannel 13 reached out to Lockwood’s husband but did not hear back.

Police are looking for a 66-year-old Berkshire County woman.