I’ve been watching and watching in the hopes they will find Eric Hall alive and well. This is the first news I’ve seen ………

An underground spiderhole discovered off Loveland Boulevard in Port Charlotte Monday is believed to have been the temporary shelter of a missing disabled former Marine.

Ret. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tim Baker said he believes the shelter was used as recently as Monday morning, suggesting 24-year-old Eric W. Hall may not be far away.

Hall fled from his aunt’s Deep Creek home Feb. 3, apparently from phantom enemies during a flashback. Monday’s discovery is a sign to the search party and members of Hall’s family that the Iraq War veteran remains in the area.

Led by a bloodhound, Ret. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tim Baker and the Southwest Florida K-9 Search Unit scoped out the makeshift campsite they said was created with military training experience within the last two to three days. The scent given to the bloodhound, Clark, from a shirt confirmed that the Marine was at the location.

Baker said he believed Hall was at the site, located near Harold Avenue Park, as recently as Monday morning.

The spiderhole was dug in the ground with a rake, and was covered by dirt-covered plywood panels taken on each side to provide the inhabitant discreet view of the surroundings. Between the plywood covers was a large sleeping area, covered with a plastic truck bed liner.

Near the spiderhole were a “cat hole,” or toilet dug in the ground downwind from the sleeping area, and an unused fire pit with pinecones and papers.

More at the Sun Herald