Search continues in Dickinson for missing Bismarck man

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Shawna Hastings of Bismarck looks over a worksite north of Dickinson with a pair of binoculars Tuesday where the Dickinson Police Department was searching for Eric Haider, also of Bismarck. The 30-year-old man disappeared from the site Thursday.

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Dickinson area law enforcement stepped-up efforts to find a Bismarck man Tuesday who disappeared last week at a worksite north of Dickinson.

Eric Haider, 30, was last seen at approximately noon Thursday at his worksite east of Baker Hughes. He was working for Bismarck-based Cofell’s Plumbing and Heating Inc., his mother, Maryellen Suchan of Lincoln, said.

“I have gotten to the point where I am almost numb,” she said. “Any parent wants to protect their children, but I can’t protect someone I can’t hold.”

The Dickinson Police Department hired Dakota Territory Search Dogs of Conde, S.D., to scan the area but had no success, according to a press release. The site was excavated where open trenches or pits were filled on the day of Haider’s disappearance.

Family members and friends overlooked the site for most of the day watching the search efforts from various spots. There are a lot of unanswered questions, said Shawna Hastings of Bismarck, mother of Haider’s daughter, Brynn Hastings.

“All we know is he disappeared from work,” she said. “I think now the whole family just wants answers.”

“He had everything going for him,” Suchan said. “He and Jody (Hewson) were talking about getting married. Every day I’d get this bearded kiss with a hug and ‘I love you, Mom,’ every single day. Thursday morning, I dropped him off at work. (He) reached over, gave me my kiss and my hug and said, ‘Love you, Mom. See you later.’”

Hewson of Bismarck told Suchan she hadn’t heard from him, she said. Hewson also reported him missing.

Haider carpooled from Bismarck to Dickinson. It is hard to believe he walked off the job since he left his belongings at work, Suchan said, adding he would never do that.

“He loved what he was doing,” she said. “The dirtier he gets, playing in the dirt like that, the more he loves that.”

She said his hardhat is missing and his checks have not been cashed.

Everybody is prepared to find him dead or alive, Shawna Hastings said, and they are comfortable with the fact that he may be buried at the site.

“If we find him here, you know, not alive or alive, we just want that closure to know what happened,” she said.

While Suchan said she was prepared for the worst, she still hopes her son survived.

“I want to bring my son home,” she said. “I’d love for them to find him where there was an air pocket in there because he could have stayed alive all this time, but if not, I’d at least be able to take him home and put some closure on it. If he’s not here, where else do we go?”

Suchan said they are offering an award for any information leading to Haider’s location, adding any tip could be helpful.

Haider is approximately 6-foot-1 and 150 pounds, according to the release from Friday. He has brown hair, blue eyes and is wearing dark work clothes. He has a pacemaker and is on heart medication, Suchan said.

Friends have also started a Facebook page to share news about the search. “Eric Haider — we want you home!” has more than 8,600 members.

Anyone who has seen or heard from Haider is asked to contact the DPD at 701-456-7762. Police have also asked the public to avoid the worksite while they search for Haider.

Tags: eric haider, dickinson police department, news, missing, bismarck, dickinson, search