Account
Oct 26, 2015
Jan 08, 2024
James
Harvey
71
41
72 inches
160 lbs
165 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On a spring day in May of 1994, a distressing event unfolded along the scenic and rugged coastline of Oregon. James Carl Harvey, a 41-year-old man, was in Pacific City, a community known for its dramatic landscapes, including the majestic and imposing Cape Kiwanda. This beautiful area, however, holds dangers for the unwary. On May 29th, this danger became a tragic reality for James, who fell from a cliff at the cape. The exact moments leading up to the fall remain unclear, but the incident prompted an immediate and urgent response from emergency services, altering the course of what might have been an ordinary day at the coast. The United States Coast Guard was dispatched to the scene in a race against time and the elements. Responders were able to locate James in the turbulent waters below the cliff. Hope for a rescue, however, was quickly challenged by the severe and unforgiving weather conditions that were battering the coast. The same powerful forces of nature that carve the impressive features of the Oregon coast became an insurmountable obstacle to the recovery effort. Despite their training and determination, the inclement weather made it impossible for the Coast Guard to safely retrieve him from the water. In the aftermath of the failed recovery attempt, the sea did not yield what it had claimed. James Carl Harvey's body was never recovered from the Pacific Ocean. The initial emergency response transitioned into a long-term missing person case, managed by the St. Helens Police Department. The case is a heartbreaking account of a person lost to the sea, witnessed but unable to be saved due to treacherous conditions. The overview of this case is one of a terrible accident at a scenic landmark, a swift but thwarted rescue effort, and the lasting uncertainty that comes when a loved one vanishes without a trace, leaving behind only the painful memory of a final, unchangeable event.
May 29, 1994
Pacific City
Oregon
Tillamook County
No
17416
St. Helens Police Department
St. Helens
Oregon
Columbia County
97051
Rick Graham
Lt.
150 South 13th Street, Oregon
5033973333
Local
Law Enforcement
15-301273
2015-10-09
St. Helens Police Department
Brown
Hazel
Hazel
05/29/2026
