News Release from: Linn County Sheriff's OfficePosted: August 15th, 2011 3:39 PM
NEWS RELEASE AUGUST 15, 2011
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that the major search effort for Mark Joseph Hardin in the Upper Calapooia area near Holley concluded Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Hardin, 49, of Sweet Home, was reported missing by his wife the afternoon of August 7. Deputies found his car the same afternoon parked on a logging road off Upper Calapooia Road approximately four miles from Holley. Search and rescue efforts since then have turned up very few clues as to Mr. Hardin's whereabouts.
The search continued throughout the week. Last Thursday, 83 searchers from Linn, Marion, Lane, Benton, and Deschutes County Sheriff's Offices resumed searching for Mr. Hardin. The search was expanded to an 8 mile area where his vehicle was located. An OH58 Kiowa helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard, along with four-wheel drive and ATV teams also assisted.
From Friday through yesterday the search was scaled back to members of the Linn County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team, two cadaver search dog teams and a fixed wing aircraft piloted by a volunteer. Up to 31 searchers remained in the area this past weekend, covering an area approximately 12 miles by 2 miles. Since the search began, the Calapooia River and the area around Mr. Hardin's vehicle have been search extensively. Unfortunately, no clues have been discovered other than a water bottle, cigarette butts and lighter that were found the first two days.
Hardin was last seen near the road late Sunday morning by a pair of transients camping about two miles east of where his vehicle was found.
Over 2,000 man hours have been spent searching for Mr. Hardin. Members of the Linn County Sheriff's Mounted Posse are scheduled to search specific areas later this week. Without further leads or tips, the search will conclude after the final efforts by Posse members.
Previous News Releases:
NEWS RELEASE AUGUST 11, 2011
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that the search for Mark Joseph Hardin has been scaled back today.
Yesterday, additional search and rescue teams responded to assist in the effort that began last Sunday in the Upper Calapooia area near Holley.
Thursday, 83 searchers from Linn, Marion, Lane, Benton, and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office resumed searching for Mr. Hardin. The search was expanded to an 8 mile area where his vehicle was located. An OH58 Kiowa helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard, along with four-wheel drive and ATV teams also assisted.
At this time, no new clues as to his whereabouts or direction of travel upon leaving his vehicle have been found.
Search efforts will continue over the next several days but will be scaled back significantly. Two highly skilled teams of four searchers each, referred to as Hasty Teams, will continue to search the area for Mr. Hardin.
Combined with the warm temperatures, lack of food and shelter, the chances of his survival after this amount of time with no water are very poor.
NEWS RELEASE SENT AUGUST 10:
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that the search for Mark Joseph Hardin that began last Sunday is still ongoing. Unfortunately, after intensive searching of the area, no new clues as to his whereabouts have been discovered since Monday.
Deputies along with trackers, and Search and Rescue personnel on foot, on ATV's and on horseback have combed the dense brushy terrain, trails and roads in the Upper Calapooia area about four miles from Highway 228 near the town Holley.
Today the search area was expanded to a 6 mile radius from where Mr. Hardin's vehicle was located Sunday afternoon. This morning a Blackhawk helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard joined the search as well as personnel from the Marion County Sheriff's Office Special Vehicle Unit and ATV Search and Rescue Team.
Ground searchers are also focusing their efforts on additional areas adjacent to the Calapooia River.
Detectives have searched Mr. Hardin's computer and cell phone looking for possible clues as to his plans, but at this time have not found anything conclusive.
On Sunday, searchers discovered a water bottle of the same brand found in Mr. Hardin's car. Monday a cigarette lighter was found that was similar to the description given by family members of the type he used. Both items were found on a gravel logging road within 1,500 feet of his vehicle, a white1997 Chevrolet Lumina.
In addition to its own Search and Rescue resources, the Linn County Sheriff's Office has been assisted by the Benton and Marion County Sheriff's Offices, Oregon Army National Guard, and Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit. Benton County has also provided members of its Sheriff's Posse, trackers, and a search dog team.
NEWS RELEASE SENT AUGUST 9:
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that a search is underway for a Sweet Home man who was reported missing on Sunday afternoon. The man is Mark Joseph Hardin, age 49. His wife reported him missing to the Sheriff's Office at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, and said he had not been seen since Friday.
Mr. Hardin is known to hike in the Upper Calapooia area. Deputies found his vehicle, a Chevy Lumina, at 3:16 p.m. Sunday near the 100 line gate on the Upper Calapooia Road. Linn County Deputies checked the area on foot and with ATV's but did not locate Mr. Hardin.
On Sunday, additional deputies and members of the Linn County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team joined the search effort until about 11 p.m. The search continued Monday with deputies, 15 members of Search and Rescue and four Linn County Sheriff's Mounted Posse members on horseback. They searched until about 10:30 last night.
The search resumed this morning with four deputies, 24 members of Search and Rescue and a K-9 tracking unit from Benton County.
A lighter and water bottle have been found alongside the road, not far from the vehicle, and are believed to belong to Mr. Hardin.
Deputies have checked with Mr. Hardin's cell phone carrier to see if there were any recent calls or text messages made from his phone. There were not. They also tried to call the phone but it went to voicemail.
Computer crimes detectives have Mr. Hardin's laptop and cell phone and, with his wife's permission, and are looking for possible clues as to Mr. Hardin's whereabouts.
Anyone with information about Mr. Hardin's location is asked to call the Linn County Sheriff's Office at 541-967-3950.
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