It is law enforcement and SAR's responsibility and focus to find people...not act as a publicist for the lost person and the search when there is nothing new to publicize.

This person disappeared in a fairly remote and rugged area that unfortunately like too many searches came up empty handed despite all the time and SAR resources devoted to the search.

You cannot blame the media either. It is their responsibility to report on the information provided and if that information is no longer forthcoming, then there is nothing to keep in the "publics face."

Had the family and friends of the missing person wanted to keep the search going and attempt to keep it in the public eye, there are other alternatives including hiring private searchers, pilots and a publicist...which has been done more then once when people go missing whether it be like in this case or similar.