Hiker Lost in Hartshorne Woods Sunday Night

Middletown, NJ - A local Middletown man got lost hiking in Hartshorne Woods on Sunday and it took rescue workers about four hours to find him after dark in the 736-acre county park.

At approximately 7:47 on Sunday evening, after sunset, officers from the Middletown Township Police Department and Monmouth County park rangers received a call from the hiker, Richard Donato, 38, of Middletown. Donato had cell service and was able to call park rangers and report that he was lost in the sprawling, deeply wooded park.

The NJ State Police aviation unit pitched in to search for him, as did the Leonardo First Aid Squad, and several Middletown fire companies. After an extensive search, Donato was located on the Grand Tour trail by county park ranger Rick Royle just before 11:30 p.m. He did not need medical treatment.

In addition to Royle, Monmouth County park rangers Allison Petruzzo, and Ryan Rochelle, Sgt. Charles Higgins, Ptl. Chris Menendez, Ptl. Nick Haines, Class II Special Officer Daniel Flannigan, K9 officers Ptl. Brian McGrogan and his K9 Jax, and Ptl. Steve Greenwood and his K9 Koda of the Middletown Twp. Police helped with the search as well.

Photo: From the Revolutionary War through to the Cold War, Hartshorne Woods has always been a desirable defense site because of its high elevation. During WWII, "bomb-proof" bunkers were built on the property, which still stand to this day. (Monmouth County Park System)