Search for missing Mason County man suspended

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has suspended the search for Brandon Adams, 34, who was last seen in the Brown Creek area in Mason County Oct. 20.

His Jeep was found abandoned Nov. 12 on the Simpson 800 line in the Olympic National Forest approximately 4 miles northwest of Dry Bed Lakes and Haven Lake, according to sheriff’s deputies.

“MCSO has informed Brandon’s family that they have suspended conventional search efforts as no new leads have arisen and all areas of probability and interest thus far have been checked with negative results. If new information arises that suggests further searching is warranted, searching may commence at that time. In the meantime, detectives are continuing to parse through the information collected thus far and are investigating additional avenues to try and locate evidence regarding Brandon’s disappearance,” according to a statement by the sheriff’s department.

Adams’ father reported him missing Oct. 23 and his last known contact was a brief phone call he placed to his father at 4:40 p.m. on Oct. 20, deputies said.

“Brandon was described by family and friends as having been recently depressed, using alcohol and drugs, and that he may be suicidal,” according to the statement.

Deputies said they obtained a state Department of Emergency Management mission number that allowed them to request additional resources, including statewide search assistance.

“Based on information obtained from Brandon’s father, MCSO Search Coordinators relayed information to neighboring Grays Harbor and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices and shared the information regarding Brandon and his vehicle’s description, and relayed information about areas within their jurisdiction that Brandon was known to be familiar with, asking them to assist in searching those areas,” according to the statement.

The Washington State Patrol featured Adams and his Jeep’s license plate on highway reader boards under the Missing Indigenous Person Alert System in the weeks before his vehicle was spotted.

On Oct. 27, the sheriff’s office said it teamed with a private citizen “who donated his time and aircraft to assist in an aerial search of the area while other mobile units searched the roads and hillsides in the area of the phone’s last reported location, but nothing was located.”

Friends of Adams started a Facebook group, which is still active, to help organize private searches.

“In the days and weeks following the initial report, numerous private citizens and friends of Brandon initiated grass roots searches of the Olympic National Forest in hopes of finding Brandon and/or his vehicle. During this time, MCSO deputies responded to numerous reports of potential sightings of Brandon throughout the region and beyond, but none were determined to be actual sightings,” according to the statement.

After Adams’ Jeep was removed, approximately 100 search and rescue volunteers and K9 teams combed the steep terrain, deputies said.

“No other trace of Adams turned up despite the massive search,” according to the sheriff’s department.

Detectives are continuing to monitor Adams’ cell phone, but there has been no activity since Oct. 20, they said.

Kari Mohr, a friend of Adams, told the Journal she was “deeply disappointed” with the decision to suspend the search.

“I appreciate the efforts of everyone who has tried so hard to find answers and to locate Brandon. So many members of the community have been looking every day, rain or shine. The communication between community members has been incredible!

“I cannot say the same for the communication between law enforcement and the community. So much frustration has been experienced by members of the community and a sheriff’s office that at times appeared to lack transparency, or maybe just don’t consider finding Brandon a top priority. Even the eventual press releases or social media posts have been so lacking in information, we often have wondered if there was any activity in this case,” Mohr said.

She said she hopes Adams is found “safe and sound” and will continue to pray and offer support to his close friends who will continue to search for him.

The sheriff’s office also thanked searchers.

“MCSO and Brandon’s family would like to extend its greatest gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who have donated thousands of hours to help in the search for Brandon.

“If anyone has any information regarding Brandon’s disappearance, please contact the Mason County Sheriff’s Office at 360-427-9670 x313 or via email at [email protected],” according to the statement.