Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP159860)
A sense of concern grew for 37-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Curtis Andersen when his family was unable to reach him after returning from a trip abroad. Ben, an avid outdoorsman, was last known to be in the Mount St. Helens area of Washington on May 18, 2026. His last GPS location pinged on NFD Road 25 in Skamania County. It is believed he was in the area training for the Bigfoot 200, a challenging 200-plus-mile ultramarathon he had previously completed in 2021.
His family reported him missing to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, initiating a search for Ben and the white 2025 Chevrolet Equinox rental vehicle he was driving.
Initial searches by the Skamania County Sheriff's Office volunteer search and rescue team on June 15 were unable to locate Mr. Andersen or his vehicle. As weeks passed, the investigation intensified, involving the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the FBI's Cellular Analysis Survey Team, and the United States Forest Service. Investigators utilized historical location data and other resources to pinpoint a remote area where they discovered evidence of a vehicle having left the roadway. On July 14, searchers located the rented Chevy Equinox at the bottom of an embankment off U.S. Forest Service Road 25.
Tragically, the following day, on July 15, 2026, Benjamin Andersen's body was found with his vehicle in the ravine. The Skamania County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from Skamania County Search & Rescue, worked to recover him. Authorities have stated that there was no indication of criminal activity or third-party involvement in his death. The case, which began as a search for a missing person, concluded with the heartbreaking discovery of a talented and adventurous individual who was pursuing his passion in the mountains he loved. The investigation has since been forwarded to the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office.Last Seen: May 18, 2026
