Idaho man presumed drowned in Hells Canyon

HELLS CANYON – (Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office) On January 17, 2022 at approximately 6:00 p.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of an overdue angler in the Hells Canyon Area. Alberto Sillonis (85 yoa), of Weiser, Idaho, traveled to the Hells Canyon Visitor Center to go fishing on the morning of January 17th and failed to return home that evening as planned. Baker County Deputies, along with deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho, began searching the route to Hells Canyon as well as checking hotels in nearby towns. At approximately 9:07 p.m., Sillonis’s 2008 Nissan Frontier was located in the parking lot of the Hells Canyon Visitor Center. Deputies searched the immediate vicinity and located two fishing poles, with one still in the water, and bait on the center dock. After investigation, it was believed that Sillonis had fallen from the dock into the water and did not survive.Sheriff Travis Ash and the Baker County Search and Rescue Team deployed at approximately 6:00 a.m. on January 18th to conduct a ground search and possible recovery. Searchers combed the areas near the docks and along the shoreline. Idaho Power employees operated a SeaBotix ROV (remotely operated vehicle), which utilized an underwater camera and sonar to aid in the search. During the search, a felt, short brim hat was located on the rocks approximately 60 feet from the docks. Family members confirmed the hat belonged to Sillonis. No other signs of Sillonis were located. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Baker County Search and Rescue volunteers as well as Idaho Power and their employees for their assistance during the search.

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