08/24/2026
Deren Pershall, 16, Hot Springs, South Dakota
He left work the evening of August 22nd in a black 2004 Chevy Impala, and his phone has been off ever since β and the MCA Virtual Search Partyβ’ has a 16-year-old to find.
REGIONAL THREAT REPORT (not case-related)
π DANGER LEVEL: 5/10 β HIGH
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Hot Springs sits in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, one of the most isolated regions in the country β Fall River County covers nearly 1,750 square miles with fewer than 7,500 residents and limited law enforcement coverage across a vast rural terrain. That isolation matters. When a teenager goes missing in a region like this and his phone is off, the response window narrows fast and the geographic spread of a vehicle can outpace any search. South Dakota's Interstate 90 corridor, which cuts through the Black Hills region, is documented by the U.S. Attorney for South Dakota as part of the "Midwest Pipeline" β the trafficking superhighways that connect the region to cities across the country. More directly: the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted its 14th consecutive undercover operation during the 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, just 60 miles north of Hot Springs, and arrested six men on charges including first-degree human trafficking and solicitation of a minor. The operation ran August 7-12, 2026 β eleven days before Deren went missing from this same region.
(605) 745-5155
If you have seen Deren or that black 2004 Chevy Impala β SD license plate 27Z386 β call Fall River County Dispatch right now. The MCA Search Team does not stand down when the trail is this fresh. We trust Jesus Christ to bring Deren home. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." β John 14:27
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We want to know where this search is reaching. Drop your city or state in the comments β that's how we know where to push harder.
*Deren needs your network. His face hasn't reached everyone yet β make sure it does.*
β οΈ Regional statistics, law enforcement operations, and risk data in this post describe the area where this child disappeared β not this case. Case facts come directly from NCMEC or official law enforcement. Regional data is sourced from publicly available law enforcement reports, government agencies, and verified news sources.