Malheur County man reported missing near Sumpter has been located

BAKER COUNTY — (Press Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office)

On May 17, 2025 at approximately 6:03 p.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of a lost subject in the area of Cracker Creek Road in Sumpter.

Deputy Hansen responded to the area and met with the reporting party, identified as Gail Vansickel, who indicated that she last saw the subject at approximately 2:00 p.m. Vansickel told deputies that the parties were mushroom hunting and that the subject, identified as Jerry Boatman (43 yoa) was from Ontario and not familiar with the area. Deputy Hansen spoke to several campers nearby with no luck.

Baker County Search and Rescue was deployed and responded to the area. SAR members searched the tailing piles to ensure that he was not injured somewhere in the immediate vicinity. During the search, law enforcement received conflicting statements surrounding the nature of the disappearance and learned that Boatman was on supervised probation in Malheur County. Information was also received that a store clerk spotted an individual believed to be Boatman in Baker City at approximately 4:00 p.m. After careful consideration of these factors, the search was suspended until daylight.

As Baker County Search and Rescue members were gearing up to head back to the scene the next morning, Vansickel notified deputies that Boatman had returned to her home. Boatman relayed that he hitched a ride from Sumpter. Deputies responded to the home to speak with Boatman, but he fled prior to their arrival. They were able to make contact with him via phone, and he refused to meet with them.

Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Baker County Search and Rescue and Baker City Police Department.

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