Shelton man, 34, still missing; active search suspended

Shelton resident Brandon L. Adams, 34, remains missing, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. Search operations were suspended Oct. 25 for Adams, who was last seen Oct. 20. Ground and air units “exhaustively searched” the last known location of Adams’ cellphone in the Browns Creek area in Mason County, Deputy Matt Colbenson told the Journal in an email.

The Sheriff’s Office is monitoring Adams’ phone and bank accounts for any activity and asks the public to call police if they have any information about Adams’ whereabouts or his blueish/purple 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with Washington plates: BDB8299, Colbenson said.

“The case has now been handed over to our detective unit,” an update on the investigation posted by the Sheriff’s Office said.

Adams and his Jeep’s license plate were recently featured on Washington State Patrol’s highway reader boards under the new Missing Indigenous Person Alert System started in 2022, Aubrie Baird, with the WSP, told the Journal.

Not every missing person qualifies for alert system.

According to the WSP, the criteria for the system to be activated are:

An Indigenous person is missing due to unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances and/or is believed to be in danger because of age, health, adverse weather, or other circumstances and is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.

There is enough descriptive information available that could reasonably assist with the safe recovery of the person, including: photos, height, weight, age, hair color, distinguishing physical characteristics and clothing.

The incident has been reported to and is being investigated by law enforcement.

All alert requests have to come from law enforcement, Baird said.

Police cautioned individuals searching for Adams to be safe outdoors.

“We appreciate the concern and support from the community, including family members, concerned citizens, and Facebook groups dedicated to finding Brandon. However, it has come to our attention that some individuals may be attempting risky search activities in their efforts to help. We urge all those involved to prioritize their

safety and to remain within their training and experience limits.

“We are aware that there may be experienced woodspeople, hikers, and rescue professionals involved in the search efforts. While we appreciate their dedication, it is essential that they assess their own capabilities and exercise caution. We want to avoid any unnecessary risk to anyone involved in the search and rescue operations.

“We are monitoring this situation closely and would like to prevent any potential accidents. We ask everyone to stay safe and exercise sound judgment during these ongoing efforts,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.