Philadelphia teen missing in the Grand Canyon

Searchers planned to continue periodic flyovers by helicopter through the next couple of days to look for 17-year-old Robert Tarr III, said Laurel Angell, a spokeswoman Grand Canyon National Park.

Tarr, who officials initially said was 16, disappeared Wednesday afternoon while hiking with his family along Havasu Creek. They were on a commercial rafting trip down the Colorado River.

The teen was last seen sitting on the creek's edge.

His family refused media requests for an interview on Friday but released a statement saying searchers had warned them that the chances of finding Tarr alive were growing smaller.

"Rob is a creative, intelligent and sensitive person who we will always love and greatly miss," said the statement signed by Tarr's parents, Robert and Susan Tarr, and his brothers, Joseph and Daniel.

A dive team, ground searchers and helicopter rescuers searched the area Thursday but found no clues about Tarr's disappearance, Angell said Friday.

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