On April 22, 2023, 78-year-old Carroll 'Don' Parkins, a resident of Colton, Oregon, told his family he was going out to get some exercise. An avid outdoorsman, he planned to go 'shed hunting,' a common practice of searching for antlers that have been naturally shed by deer and elk. He drove his silver Toyota Tundra to a familiar area, parking it at a gate on Rooster Rock Road that led into private timber property near the Mt. Hood National Forest. He then entered the woods and has not been seen or heard from since. His family became concerned when he did not return home and, after discovering his parked truck, they contacted the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office to report him missing in the early hours of April 23.
The discovery of Parkins' vehicle initiated a massive search and rescue operation coordinated by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
For eight consecutive days, numerous agencies and volunteer groups scoured the rugged terrain of the Molalla River Recreation Area. The search was extensive, involving an average of 47 volunteers each day who collectively dedicated approximately 3,100 hours to the effort. Search teams from Multnomah and Washington counties, along with organizations like Mountain Wave Emergency Communications, Portland Mountain Rescue, and Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, joined the mission. The area had been impacted by the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire, which some hoped would provide better visibility into the forest for searchers, but the challenging landscape still presented significant obstacles. Despite the comprehensive and prolonged search, crews were unable to locate any clues, signs, or evidence that would point to Parkins' whereabouts.
After eight exhaustive days with no leads, the official search for Carroll Parkins was suspended on April 30, 2023. At the time he went missing, he was described as a white male, 5'7' and weighing between 180 and 195 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He wore glasses and had a short gray beard. Parkins also has several distinguishing physical features, including scars on his hip and both knees, and is missing portions of the thumb, index, and middle fingers on his left hand. He was believed to be wearing brown boots, blue jeans, a black and white plaid shirt with a brown flannel over-shirt, suspenders, and a black baseball cap with orange on the bill. The investigation into his disappearance remains open, a quiet and unresolved chapter for his family and the community who await any information that might bring him home.Last Seen: Apr 22, 2023
