From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

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For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: November 8, 2006

Contact:	Sergeant Mark Meister 541-265-4277 x4937 mmeister@co.lincoln.or.us
Incident:	Missing Persons
Date Occurred:	November 7, 2006
Time Occurred:	Approximately 5:30 PM
Location:	Glenn Avenue in Gleneden Beach, OR

Summary:

On November 07, 2006 at about 5:30 PM the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons report from Glenn Ave in Gleneden Beach. Deputy John Beckwith responded to the Gleneden Beach address and learned that Elma Benefiel, age 78 of Beaverton, OR, and her daughter-in-law, Jan Benefiel age 61 of Idaho Falls, Idaho, had gone for a walk in the area around 1:00 PM and not returned. Elma and Jan Benefiel are staying at a vacation rental home in Gleneden Beach with other family members, who called police when the two women did not return after their walk.

Further investigation revealed that the two woman were seen walking near Glenn Avenue by Depoe Bay Fire Department personnel at about 2:00 PM. The Depoe Bay Fire Department had personnel in the area to help coordinate the efforts underway there in response to the recent severe weather causing the ocean cliffs to erode putting homes there at risk of collapse into the ocean. A local resident in the area reported seeing the women walking on the beach at about 4:00 PM just south of where the cliff work was being done. High surf, high winds, and a high tide were the reported conditions around the time the women were seen on the beach.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office requested assistance in searching the area. The US Coast Guard deployed a search team and a helicopter to search the beach and cliffs in the area. Depoe Bay Fire Department, Lincoln County Search and Rescue personnel, and deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office were called in to search local wooden areas and canvass the neighborhoods. Tracking dogs were brought in and located the scent of the women in the area.

The two women are still missing at this time. The search was called off at midnight due to weather and lighting conditions. The search is scheduled to be resumed at 8:00 AM today (11-08-06)

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance from the public. Anyone with information regarding the missing women is asked to call the Lincoln County Communication Center at (541) 265-4231.

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