Account
Jan 15, 2025
Jan 18, 2025
Gary
Sweetin
61
61
74 inches
205 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
A sense of concern grew for 61-year-old Gary Howard Sweetin when family members were unable to reach him after a phone call on November 10, 2024. Living in an RV park in Winston, Oregon, Gary's lack of communication was uncharacteristic, prompting a relative to become worried, especially after he missed her birthday. This concern led a family member to visit his residence, where there was no answer at his door. After confirming with other family and the on-site manager that no one had seen or heard from him for some time, he was officially reported missing on November 24th. The Cow Creek Tribal Police responded, and an initial search of his trailer and the immediate area revealed nothing that would suggest criminal activity. The search for Gary intensified in the weeks that followed. On December 8th, the Cow Creek Tribal Police requested assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol and Search and Rescue, who brought in cadaver dogs to search the South Umpqua River and its banks near the RV park. However, challenging conditions, including extremely high water levels and dense vegetation, hampered their efforts, and he was not found. Another attempt was made on December 19th, this time utilizing a drone from the Winston Police Department to survey the river and the vicinity of the RV park from the air, but this search also proved unsuccessful. Tragically, on a Saturday in January 2025, the search for Gary Sweetin came to a somber end. During a secondary, more extensive ground search of the Safari RV Park and the surrounding areas, members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team located his remains near the riverbank, concealed in dense vegetation. Following the discovery, his family was notified. The Chief of Police for the Cow Creek Tribal Police Department stated that while the cause of death could be accidental or natural, there were no indications of foul play. The case, which began with a concerned family member's unanswered phone calls, concluded with the sad discovery of a missing loved one, bringing a painful closure to weeks of uncertainty.
Nov 10, 2024
Winston
Oregon
Douglas County
Winston
No
161993
Cow Creek Tribal Police
Canyonville
Oregon
Douglas County
97417
270 Gazley Bridge Road, Oregon
5416911432
Tribal
Law Enforcement
24-0147
2024-11-22
Cow Creek Tribal Police
33
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
Yes
05/24/2026
