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Jacob Sanders Search Update: Band Velcro Pygmies, Fans Organize Search Efforts For Bassist Who Disappeared During Fishing Trip

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 15:04 PST, Mar 4, 2016

Jacob Sanders is still missing after the fishing boat he and his brother were in crashed, and now the band, Velcro Pygmies, is taking the lead in organizing a search effort for their missing bassist.

Sanders, a member of the popular Kentucky-based cover band, was on a fishing trip to the Tennessee River with his brother, Jeremiah Sanders. The boat was later found overturned but the brothers were nowhere to be found.

Though officials have not said if they believe Jacob Sanders is dead, the outlook is difficult. Authorities said the boat was badly damaged and appeared to have been in an accident.

ABC 3340 reported on the find.

“Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency officials said the boat was located, and it was heavily damaged.”

“The boat was pinned under one of the pilings on the bridge on the Wilson Dam side. From what I was told, I didn’t actually see it myself, it was some kind of impact…some kind of accident that the boat had. The hull had pretty substantial damage to it,” said Tim Greer, EMA Director.

“The search Thursday was hampered by the bad weather. All the rain has picked up the current in the river, making it that much more dangerous for responders.”

Band members are doing their part to search for Jacob Sanders. On the official Facebook page for the Velcro Pygmies, they called for the help of local veterans in assembling a search team.

“Calling all vets,” the band wrote. “If you haven’t heard, Jacob Sanders, of the Velcro Pygmies has gone missing in an apparent boating accident on the Tennessee river in Alabama. If you can spare a few days, myself and a few of the Marines from West End are heading to Alabama tonight to help with the search effort. So if you have any outdoor training or tracking knowledge, we leave tonight to Alabama to help. It would mean a lot to me, and certainly a lot to them. The Pygmies have done a lot to support the military. Let’s have the military do some support for them. Hit me up.”

In a previous post, the band had asked if anyone had access to a drone that could search in some of the inaccessible areas around the river.

The posts drew hundreds of comments from fans, with some offering to help and others leaving prayers that Jacob Sanders could be found and returned home safely. As the band’s official website noted, the bassist known as Sandman was particularly loved by fans.

“Keen style, piercing crystal blue eyes and God-given good looks can be deceptive when it comes to Jacob Sanders. Not only are the women enchanted with his appearance, but they melt with the bass he lays down, and they are more than willing to pick it up. His instrument, like him, are guaranteed to satisfy.”

The Velcro Pygmies play more than 200 shows a year, traveling across the United States with upcoming gigs scheduled from Texas to Georgia. The band’s lineup changes frequently, with only the lead singer and drummer staying the same.

It was actually members of the band who first discovered that Jacob Sanders was missing. Velcro Pygmies founder and vocalist Cameron Flener said Jacob was supposed to show up for a practice at 5 p.m. on Thursday but never showed.

“That’s when we started to get worried,” Flener told WLKY.

As the search for the missing Jacob Sanders goes on, band members said they have canceled all shows scheduled for the weekend. Flener said they are still very hopeful that Sanders and his brother will be found, “sitting on the banks somewhere freezing their a**es off.”

[Image via Facebook]

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