Man on a Mission!
Hello, my name is Vern Shurtz and I am the Owner/Operator of Helo & Sub, a one-man operation to explore the natural and human world around us. Being semi-retired, I have been looking for a way to give back to the community and searching for missing persons has become a calling of sorts and I dedicate much of my time to finding the missing at no cost to families or local authorities.
A little bit about me
I am a US Navy Submarine Veteran with 13 years served and have a background in Nuclear Mechanical Engineering, Radiological Controls, and was an Engineering and Submarine Damage Control Instructor.
I have over 15 years of remote operator experience and expert knowledge in Unmanned Systems Technology and Services (i.e. Aerial Drones, underwater ROVs, etc.). I'm highly certified in Unmanned Operations, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue/Recovery.
To date, my search partner, Ken Fleming of Recon Dive Recovery, and I have located over 75 vehicles and watercraft using our custom developed Uncrewed Sonar Search Vessels (USSV). We sonar map retention ponds, canals, small lakes, and rivers and assess our findings with ROVs, Underwater Camera systems and when needed, Ken dives on the anomaly. We then report to local authorities our findings.
Our Search Efforts
In August of 2024, Ken and I assisted the Family and Friends of Darron Rose search the flooded Myakka River for Darron. He was on a Jet Ski checking out the extent of the flooding when a collision occurred with a Jon boat rounding a tight bend in the river. Darron was knocked off the Jet Ski and did not surface. On day 5 of our search, we were able to locate Darron 3 miles down river from the accident site.
Throughout 2025, we have conducted numerous search missions for a number of Law Enforcement agencies. Many of these are suspected homicide cases where the victim is still missing.
One such case is that of Nancy Bunly who went missing in September of 2024 along with a Black Honda Pilot. To date, over a dozen boat ramps, numerous ponds , lakes, quarries, and almost 80 miles of shoreline on 9 reservoirs in the area have been sonar scanned and mapped. Her boyfriend has been charged with her murder and concealment along with several members of his family. The search for Nancy is still ongoing.
In 2025, I assisted in the search and recovery of 2 missing persons in North Carolina. A paddleboarder that went missing in Belews lake, and a boy that fell into the Tar River.
In mid December, myself and several other volunteer searchers came together to search for a man who went missing in the Clemson Experimental Forest. In a group effort, we were able to find him in a body of water in less the 2 hours.
We self-fund the majority of these search efforts, along with the development of the custom sonar search boats, and the purchasing of equipment needed to effectively search for the missing.
When on the road, my search partner Ken and I live and work out of a converted 6x12 cargo trailer. We cook meals, eat, sleep, and plan our next day's search in this home on wheels removing the huge expense associated with hotel rooms and Air B&Bs and eating fast food or in restaurants. Our main expense is fuel for our vehicles.
So here is the ask. Help us fuel our searches by donating to this GoFundMe. Without fuel we are dead in the water. Some of these proceeds will also be used for groceries to fuel our bodies and minds, and provide kibble and treats for our 4-legged search companions. Our search efforts are mainly in the southeast. We consider searches outside this region on a case by case basis.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Be blessed by love and hold those dearest to you close.