Authorities in Oregon are intensifying their search for 78-year-old Thomas Weightman, who went missing on Tuesday after leaving his family home in Forest Grove. Weightman made a brief phone call to police, reporting that he had fallen into a hole and was unsure of his location.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office said Weightman left home on foot at around 10 a.m. and was reported missing at 5:30 p.m. Despite efforts to locate him using cell phone triangulation, the remote and rugged terrain has hampered progress. Detective Shannon Wilde described the area as “very deep terrain with ravines and trees,” making the search challenging.
Concerns are growing as nighttime temperatures in the area are expected to drop to around 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), and Weightman was last seen wearing only a red flannel shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a dark baseball cap. He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with gray hair, a gray beard, and glasses.
Search and rescue teams, including drone units and dog patrols, have been scouring the area for days. More than ten agencies are involved in the operation. Authorities have urged locals to check their properties for the missing man but have asked community members to avoid searching on foot to avoid interfering with official efforts.
Detective Wilde noted the emotional toll on the family, stating, “The longer this goes on, the more concerning it gets for the family and for us as to what kind of condition he might be in.” Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number at 503-629-0111, or 911 if he is found.
