Massive search for missing woman planned
By Paul Hall on Friday, May 7th, 2021 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
PENDLETON – (Information provided by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Department) Umatilla County Search and Rescue and Oregon State police will be coordinating a multi-agency search near Meacham, Oregon for a missing 56 year old female, Deborah Hendrichs. The search is scheduled to begin at approximately 8am on Saturday May 8th and continue through May 9th, depending on results. The missing person case originated out of Ada County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho, where Deborah was reported missing in of January, 2021. The search area will concentrate on areas surrounding the eastbound side of Interstate 84 near milepost 238, where her abandoned vehicle was found after she was reported missing.
This will be a robust search response with multiple agencies involved. Approximately 90 personnel have committed to assist in the search, including possibly ten K9 teams, 4 drones and about 35 ground searchers. The actual number will not be known until participants check in on Saturday morning.
Search areas include along I-84, portions of Kamela Highway, Hancock Road, the I-84 Interchange Bridge and road toward Meacham, the railroad and bridge, the road into Meacham Lake, area creeks, bodies of water and wooded land. The objective of this search is to locate any possible remains of Deb Hendrichs or any items she may have had on her person at the time of her disappearance.
ODOT personnel and Union Pacific Railroad have provided a liaison to ensure safety of the search personnel because the area includes both the interstate and railroad lines. ODOT also provided the location for an Incident Command post and will allow us to use both the power and portable bathrooms at that sight. Union Pacific Railroad, Cunningham Sheep Company Ranch and Hancock Timber Resource Group have been contacted and are cooperating with searchers, since a large portion of the search area is owned by these businesses.
We are asking that the general public remain out of the area unless they are residents. Hunters with spring turkey or bear tags are asked to be aware there are searchers in the area and to choose an alternate hunt location during those days. We are also asking residents in the search area, especially in the Meacham Lake area, to be aware that 4 drones will be flying overhead during this operation. The drones will not be concentrating on occupied areas or invading privacy of homes or curtilage, they will be concentrating on areas away from occupied buildings and bodies of water. Searchers on the ground will also be staying away from occupied homes and curtilage, however if a home appears to have been vacant throughout the winter or looks broken into, they will notify the land owner in an attempt to eliminate any possibility that she entered an unoccupied residence or structure seeking assistance.
A website has been developed for information on this mission. There has also been a separate email address for questions prior to and during the search. PIO contact information is listed below and on the website. Any updates during the search will be published on this website as well.
