Gary Robert Nuetzel, a 79-year-old man, was last seen in Costa Mesa, California on October 10, 2024. He is described as a white male, 5' 9" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with blue eyes and gray, collar-length hair. Nuetzel has an active lifestyle and is an avid and experienced hiker.
On October 28, 2024, Nuetzel's vehicle was discovered in the parking area of Chantry Flat, a popular hiking spot in the Angeles National Forest, located north of Sierra Madre.
This discovery led authorities to believe he went missing while hiking. Nuetzel was very familiar with the Chantry Flat area, having grown up in the vicinity and possessing over 50 years of hiking experience there. He was known to explore off-the-beaten-path locations.
The Chantry Flat area had reopened to the public just over a week before Nuetzel's disappearance, after a four-year closure due to damage from the Bobcat Fire. The landscape was described as looking "radically different" from how it was prior to the fire. This significant alteration of the familiar terrain is a noteworthy factor in his disappearance. Nuetzel had not shared his specific hiking plans with friends or family, which resulted in a delay in him being reported as missing.
Extensive search and rescue operations were launched to find Nuetzel. These efforts involved volunteers, horses, dogs, drones, and multiple search and rescue teams from across the state. A dive team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department also searched the pools above and below Sturtevant Falls, but found no signs of him. Authorities have asked anyone who was hiking in the Chantry Flat area between October 14 and 16, 2024, to check their photos for any potential signs of Nuetzel. The Costa Mesa Police Department is the investigating agency for this case.Last Seen: Oct 10, 2024
