An intensive search for a missing man in Copiah County that started Thursday night has been suspended, according to Randall Drane, Copiah County Emergency Operations Center.

Agencies from Copiah County and beyond joined forces in the search for Robert Lee Cain of 1184 Cain Road, near Wesson, who has been missing since Tuesday.

Authorities from the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department brought in bloodhounds in the attempt to track down Cain, after some of Cain’s belongings were found in the woods near his residence.

By 3:30 p.m. Friday, Frank Newell, volunteer firefighter for the town of Wesson, and one of the first department officials at the scene, reported he was knee deep in the woods, along with 10-12 other members of the department, in the attempt to find Cain or clues to his location.

Despite an expansive search that included close to 100 officials from departments as far away as Gulfport, searchers came up empty-handed, said Newell.

Newell and the department joined officials with the Pearl Fire Department; Rankin and Copiah County Emergency Management; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; the Mississippi Highway Patrol; and close to 75 officers in the search for the missing man.