From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

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For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: February 20, 2008

Contact:	Deputy Bruce McGuire 541-265-4277 x2729 bmcguire@co.lincoln.or.us
Incident:	Missing Person
Date Occurred:	February 15, 2008
Time Occurred:
Location:	Five Rivers Area

Summary:

On 02/15/2008 Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy Abby Dorsey located a vehicle on Hwy 34 near the Five Rivers area. A check of the registration revealed the vehicle belongs to Russell Sisson, 44 years old, of Salem, who had been reported as a missing person. Sisson had reportedly told his wife that he was taking a drive then contacted her on 02/13/2008 saying he was at the coast and on his way home. Sisson did not return home that evening so a missing person report was filed with Salem Police Department. A search of the vehicle and surrounding area by several deputies failed to locate Sisson.

Deputy Bruce McGuire activated the Lincoln County Sheriffs Search and Rescue, along with Lincoln County Sheriffs Posse to start a search in the morning, as darkness had hindered search efforts.

On 02/16/2008 members of the Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Search and Rescue, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Posse conducted a more detailed search of the area. The county’s Search and Rescue Team located shoe tracks similar to Sisson’s shoes on the opposite bank of the river which indicate the person slid down the embankment, possibly falling into the water. Oregon State Police Game Units and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol conducted a search of the Alsea River from Five Rivers to Blackberry campground, but were unable to locate Sisson. Again the search was suspended due to darkness.

On 02/17/2008 the search was resumed with additional resources from Benton County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue and Clackamas County Sheriffs Marine Patrol, who responded with a Side Scan Sonar to search the area in the water where the tracks were located. Efforts to locate Sisson have been unsuccessful at this time.

NOTE: The Sisson family, who wants private time for family and friends, respectfully requested that all media interest in the case be directed to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office attention Deputy Bruce McGuire at (541) 961-4465 or Sgt. Bob Jozwiak at (541) 961-4445.

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