Kelley Lee Phillips, a 69-year-old man, was last seen in Idaho County, Idaho, on August 14, 2021, and has not been heard from since. Conflicting reports suggest he may have been last seen at his home in Grangeville, Idaho on August 24, 2021. Phillips, a white male with gray hair and green eyes, stood at 5'11" and weighed approximately 170 pounds.
Prior to his disappearance, Phillips had informed friends of his plans to go camping in the Newsome Creek area, located about 50 miles east of Grangeville. This was an area he was familiar with, having spent considerable time mining there. Concern grew when he failed to make contact, and a friend officially reported him missing to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office on September 7, 2021.
Investigators located Phillips' white 1991 Toyota pickup truck near Fall Creek at milepost 35.2, just off State Highway 14. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle parked in that location with its hood up on August 23 and 24. Inside the truck, authorities discovered a notepad indicating he had been experiencing mechanical issues with the vehicle; his keys were found underneath the notepad.
Further investigation revealed that Phillips was in very poor health. He had reportedly made comments to friends suggesting he knew his life was nearing its end, stating that the "sand in my hourglass is running out," and had written a letter to family expressing that he was at the end of his days. Despite numerous searches of the area surrounding his truck by agencies including Grangeville Mountain Rescue, no trace of Phillips has been found. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case.
Last Seen: Aug 14, 2021
