Craig Strickland Search Continues as Wife Helen Expresses Gratitude Toward Law Enforcement and Supporters

Missing country singer's wife thanked her friends and the authorities for their tireless work over the past week

By Jenna Mullins Jan 02, 2016 1:35 AMTags

While the search for missing country star Craig Strickland continues, his wife Helen Strickland is speaking out to express gratitude for the outpouring of support and the hard work of the search patrols.

"The canine units [and] the Kay County Sheriff's Department have been so wonderful to us," she said in an interview with 4029 TV. "The Oklahoma Highway Patrol having gone above and beyond, especially going through this struggle, is the most comforting thing you can have."

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The 29-year-old Backroad Anthem frontman has been missing since Monday when the boat used by him and his friend, 22-year-old Chase Morland, was found capsized in Oklahoma. Morland was eventually found dead, but Helen Strickland remains hopeful that authorities will find her husband, especially since the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to narrow down their recovery area on Thursday.

"To see how much more work can be done in a specific area, it has given us a lot of rest because we feel like that'll give us a lot of hope they will find Craig soon," she said. "It's more painful for us to think he could be underwater. Still we want that closure in seeing him."

Helen posted to her Instagram on Friday that they have received approval for more professional crews to join the search for Strickland moving forward. She also shared a photo of her friends posing in front of a lake and gave thanks for their support.

"Thank you to my sweet friends for being there for me during one of my rougher days. You left everything to be there with me and I couldn't have made it to this point without you," she wrote. "You make me laugh when I wanted to just sit and cry. Thank you to friends who have offered to come. I appreciate the love you have sent. Thank you everyone for all of your continued prayers and support. Your prayers have helped get me through another day. Still searching. Love you all."

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement said in a press release that Saturday's search will resume at daybreak with two more search canines, multiple side scan sonars and a helicopter.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families during this difficult time.

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