SPARTA, Mo. -- A massive search for four people on the Finley River may -- as it turns out -- have been unnecessary.

It was around 4:15 p.m. Friday when authorities received a 911 call, reporting two boats had capsized in the rushing Finley River in a rural area northeast of Sparta.

"Crews from Logan-Rogersville and Sparta were on scene with reports of at least four people in the water," said Springfield Fire Department Battalion Chief David Pennington, who went with a water rescue team to the scene in case it was needed.

On foot, in the water, even in the air, emergency workers began the search that spanned at least 10 miles.  As time went by, the reports began to change.

"First we had everyone (four victims) in the water, then we had only two, then it became one," Pennington said.

The Highway Patrol's helicopter even surveyed the scene from above but found nothing.

Then another tip came in, spotting four people in the woods who matched the original description of those supposedly in danger.

"We're reasonably comfortable with a report from a resident; they saw four males and a female exit the woods," said Pennington.

With reasonable certainty that no one was in the water, Pennington called the search off near the 7 p.m. hour.

The Christian County Sheriff's Department was working to verify the identity of the four people seen walking out of the woods late Friday.  Pennington said he did not have any evidence that any were in serious danger.

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