Missing Man Fresno OES

October 18, 2019
Outside of Fresno in Sierra
2019-057

Written by Glenn Henderson

The team was activated for a search northeast of Fresno along the Kings River in the Sequoia National forest. We were searching for a 65-year-old man that had been missing for six weeks. Fresno activated the OES (Office of Emergency System) to get statewide help. Shani, Cameron, and Blake responded at 7 PM on Saturday, October 19 arriving at basecamp at 2 AM. I left at 4 AM on Sunday, October 20 arriving at 11:30. When I got to basecamp, they told me that our team was on an assignment following up stream along Kings River. I was to catch up an do another assignment downstream from their starting point. We all completed our assignments and met up at 6PM. Fresno had a kitchen set up and fed us all well.

Cameron and Blake had to get back to work on Monday, so they left, and Shani and I pitched our tents alongside the river ready for another assignment on Monday. We were assigned to a Fresno county search dog team and to two members of BAMRU (Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit). Our assignment was to drive further downstream and search between the river and the road for 2 miles. Lots of steep terrain and POISON OAK!!! I managed to bring some home with me that appeared a week later. No clues of any kind were found.

Fresno had been on the search for two weeks and with the statewide call out the search was scaled back and will be continued by Fresno SAR. Shani and I packed up our gear and were on the road by 2:30 in the afternoon and got home at 8 PM.

It’s always disappointing to leave a search without finding anything. It’s especially hard to leave and know that the family does not have closure. I hope that something will be found soon by Fresno SAR.

RMRU Members Involved: Cameron Dickinson, Douglas Blake, Glenn Henderson and Shani Pynn.