Search continues for missing person in Harney County
By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
HARNEY COUNTY – The search continues for a missing John Day man, last seen in Harney County. Michael S. Griffin was reported missing, and on November 28th, his vehicle was found near Warm Springs Reservoir.
Find the latest Harney County Sheriff’s Office release below:
(Press Release from the Harney County Sheriff’s Office)
On Thursday, November 28, 2024, a local rancher reported a car on the Warm Springs access road that had been there for a couple of days with a dog inside.
Harney County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded, then made contact with Grant County law enforcement to attempt contact with the car owner. Harney County law enforcement learned a welfare check had already been attempted for the owner of the car, Michael Griffin.
The search then began on Thursday, November 28 with limited daylight hours, utilizing a drone. It resumed the morning of Friday, November 29 with Search & Rescue also being deployed with continued use of a drone, ground search and use of side-by-sides. On Saturday, November 30, a local pilot certified in Search & Rescue joined, searching in sections, but was limited due to the dense fog. They continued to search Sunday, December 1. Yesterday, December 2nd, Grant County Search & Rescue joined the search with K9s, providing valuable assistance, tracking a direction that Griffin had gone for approximately 6 miles.
Searching resumes this morning, with air and ground support.
Searchers have been hampered with poor weather conditions, including muddy roads, and dense fog causing low visibility.
We have received questions about the wellbeing of the dog – the dog is okay and being looked after.
Thank you to our partners with Oregon State Police, pilots, Grant County Search & Rescue, and Harney County Search & Rescue for the assistance and turnout we’ve had with this search.
