Sheriff's Office And Search And Rescue Volunteers Successfully Locate Missing Roseburg Man (Photo) - 10/13/26
ROSEBURG, Ore. - A coordinated search effort involving the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Douglas County Search and Rescue volunteers resulted in the successful location of a missing 73-year-old Roseburg man Friday evening.
On Friday, October 9, 2026, at approximately 2:10 p.m., deputies responded to a residence in the 2800-block of SE Booth Avenue after receiving a report of a missing man. The man's wife reported that her husband, who suffers from dementia and has limited mobility, had last been seen on the evening of Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Deputies conducted an initial search of the property but were unable to locate the man. Due to concerns for his safety, particularly given his medical condition and mobility limitations, Douglas County Search and Rescue was activated to assist in locating him.
As search efforts expanded, a Douglas Alerts notification was issued to residents within a one-mile radius of the residence, providing a description of the missing man and alerting the community to the search.
At approximately 6:02 p.m., a Search and Rescue ground search team located a packed bag on a neighboring property. The man's wife confirmed the bag belonged to her husband. Search personnel relayed the location to a Sheriff's Office drone operator, who focused aerial search efforts on the surrounding terrain.
Just eight minutes later, at approximately 6:10 p.m., the drone operator located the missing man on a hillside. Search and Rescue personnel responded to the location and assisted him to safety. Deputies determined the man had fallen down a steep, dry grassy slope with an estimated grade of 35 to 45 degrees and had spent a night outdoors before being located.
The man was evaluated by ambulance personnel at the scene but declined further medical assistance. He was subsequently escorted back to his residence where he was reunited with his wife and daughter.
This successful mission highlights the importance of resource coordination, including technology.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office extends its appreciation to the Search and Rescue Volunteers, emergency medical personnel, and everyone who assisted with the search.
