Task force returns to Schuylkill River in search for Shane Montgomery

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The task force looking for West Chester University senior Shane Montgomery was back Thursday morning canvassing the banks of the Schuylkill River.

Teams searched along the river and in the brush that lines its banks.

Inclement weather Thursday hampered their efforts. After about an hour, crews had to stop but their search efforts are expected to continue over the next several days.

The leading theory now is that Montgomery walked into a parking lot along the river and somehow ended up in the water.

It is now known that a surveillance camera captured Montgomery crossing the bridge to a parking lot on the banks of the Schuylkill River in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day.

The footage, retrieved and being withheld by police, represents a big break in the case.

The video came from Christie's Nail Salon, which is located near Kildare's Pub, sources said.

Sources say it shows Montgomery crossing the bridge over the Manayunk Canal but never returning, shortly after the 21-year-old had left Kildaire's.

On Wednesday the police marine unit and investigators searched the river and its banks for two hours.

Rough weather cut that search short. Montgomery's friends watched nearby.

Montgomery is a West Chester University student. His disappearance has sparked a massive social media effort.

A flyer with his picture on it can be seen all over the area.

For 2 weeks detectives were baffled by his disappearance. Now they have an idea of what happened, and they just need to find him.

Montgomery's mother told Action News Thursday morning that she did not plan to join search efforts along the river.

She said she and her husband are devastated by the new developments in the case.

The reward in the search for the 21-year-old West Chester University student now stands at $65,000.

Montgomery's family announced the latest tally Tuesday on the Help Find Shane Montgomery Facebook page.

Montgomery was last seen leaving Kildare's Irish Pub in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia early Thanksgiving morning after a night out with friends.

Kildare's management said he left the bar without a problem. A relative, who works at Kildare's, told Shane it was closing time and they left at 1:50 a.m.

Staffers reportedly saw Shane turn left out of the door and head south on Main Street.

A ping from his cellphone was picked up near the CVS Pharmacy on Main Street, located about an hour after he vanished.

He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, a gray button-up shirt and jeans.

Shane is 5'11" tall, weighs 140 pounds with short brown hair and green eyes.

He has a large Celtic tattoo across his shoulder blades.

Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities at 215-686-3353/3354.