RUMNEY — State Marine Patrol officers used a sonar device to search for a missing North Carolina man in Stinson Lake Tuesday.

Fish and Game officers and a dog from New England K-9 Search and Rescue also looked in the woods on the upland side of Stinson Lake Road for Hugh Armstrong, 72, of Clayton, N.C.

Armstrong went for a walk around the lake a week ago today and has not been seen since.

In an email to the New Hampshire Union Leader Tuesday, Gordon Proctor of Moultonborough — Armstrong's brother-in-law — said the family is “mystified” by his disappearance but very grateful to the volunteers and professionals who have been searching for him.

“I see Hugh as a very level headed person and we are puzzled...We are inclined to think he would stay on his intended path — a walk around the lake.

“My daughter Linda, her husband and son drove around the lake and walked some of the road and felt it would be impossible to get lost if one stayed on the road (paved or dirt) since they are well marked. He said he would be back by 9 a.m. leaving about 2½ hours to walk 5.2 miles which is approximately 28.8 minutes per mile,” Proctor wrote.

“That's a slow walk so I suppose he could have felt he had time to venture off the road but we doubt it. As to whether he could have been picked up by someone...Hugh's a sensible guy and we don't see him getting into a vehicle with a stranger unless he was duped or hurt or something like that,” he wrote

Armstrong's wife, Ellen, and their daughters, Diane and Sarah and family, left the area Tuesday, three days after their vacation was to end.

“Ellen expressed her deep thanks and appreciation to all the professional organizations, volunteers, and local folks who helped in the search and provided support to the family,” Proctor wrote. “She is especially appreciative of Lt. Kneeland's efforts and professionalism keeping the family informed,” he wrote, referring to Fish and Game Lt. Jim Kneeland, who directed hundreds of searchers.

Tuesday, Kneeland and Fish and Game staff were still looking in a spot in the woods where searchers had not been able to get to, above the Anderson residence on Stinson Lake Road.

Meanwhile, Marine Patrol Sgt. Eric Robertson said two officers in a boat with a side scan sonar device were searching areas identified by Kneeland and would return again if the entire search area had not been completed.

Armstrong was last seen wearing sneakers, eyeglasses perhaps with sunglass attachment, a white baseball hat, shorts and a T-shirt when he left the family's rental unit at Hawthorne Village.

He had no cell phone, food, or water.

Those who believe they may have seen Armstrong are asked to call 846-3333.

ptracy@unionleader.com