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John Early Missing Person Case

Last seen in Ashland, Oregon on Apr 30, 2023

Victim Details

Jul 3, 2023

Jul 5, 2023

John

Early

68

65

74 inches

200 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Apr 30, 2023

Ashland

Oregon

Jackson County

No

126232

Jackson County Sheriff's Office

Central Point

Oregon

Jackson County

97502

Preston Friend

Detective

5179 Crater Lake Highway, Oregon

5417746800

County

Law Enforcement

http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/

23-2468

May 1, 2023

Jackson County Sheriff's Office

1970

Red/Auburn

Blue

Blue

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP105138) and 10 other sources
On April 30, 2023, 65-year-old John Kevin Early was last seen in a rural area of Jackson County, just outside of Ashland, Oregon. He had reportedly been searching for morel mushrooms near the intersection of Moon Prairie Road and Jenny Creek Road at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon. At the time of his disappearance, John was wearing blue jeans, a gray sweatshirt, and brown boots. The area where he went missing is a remote part of the county, situated off of Highway 66.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was notified of his disappearance and opened an investigation. It was noted that John had a history of wandering in the rural parts of Jackson County and had gone missing on previous occasions. This history provided a concerning context for his sudden absence, prompting immediate concern from authorities and his community. His physical characteristics were shared to aid in the search; he is a white male with red or auburn hair and blue eyes, standing at a height of 6 feet 2 inches and weighing around 200 pounds.

Search and rescue teams were deployed to the area where John was last seen. Despite extensive efforts to locate him in the rugged terrain surrounding Jenny Creek and Moon Prairie Road, no signs of him were immediately found. The case remains a poignant and unresolved matter for his family and the local community. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance, a simple outing to forage for mushrooms, stand in stark contrast to the lingering uncertainty of his whereabouts, leaving many to wonder what happened to John Early in the woods of southern Oregon.
Last Seen: Apr 30, 2023

Links to Additional Sources (10)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP105138
  • Police search for missing Ashland mushroom hunter - KDRV
  • One Week Later, Search Continues for Missing Ashland Man
  • JACKSON COUNTY MAN MISSING, DSCO ASSISTING IN SEARCH ...
  • John Early - Medford Alert
  • Where was John Early last seen? Search for missing mushroom ...
  • 65-YEAR-OLD MUSHROOM HUNTER MISSING OUTSIDE ASHLAND
  • 65-year-old Mushroom Hunter Missing Outside Ashland, Witnesses ...
  • Search and rescue crews searching for missing Ashland mushroom ...
  • John Kevin Early - The Charley Project

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    75%Possible
    John Doe — Covelo, California - unidentified case UP124271
    John Doe — Covelo, California
    UP124271 • Found Oct 24, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 65
    Race 100%White
    Location 61%168 mi away
    TimingFound 6 months after last seen
    Height 100%6'1"–6'3" vs 6'2"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone, I've been following John Early's case closely and something's been nagging at me. The... ...Read More
    12/20/2023
    Just thinking about the area where John Early went missing—it's pretty dense and rough terrain out... ...Read More
    05/04/2023

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