Two men from Portland lost their lives hunting for the mythical beast Sasquatch over Christmas.
Portland men hunting Sasquatch go missing
The duo, both hailing from Portland, Oregon, had failed to return on Christmas Eve from their trip to eastern Skamania County.
A concerned family member reported their absence on Christmas Day, prompting a full-scale search operation, stated the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.
Their vehicle was located with the assistance of a “flock camera”—a high-tech license plate reader—picking up the car’s location near Oklahoma Road, close to Willard, Washington.
For three days, search and rescue efforts included over 60 volunteers, canine units, drones, ground teams, and even aerial support from the U.S. Coast Guard, all working tirelessly to locate the missing men.
“After a grueling, three-day search over difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions, the 59-year-old male and 37-year-old male, both from Portland, Oregon, who were reported missing/endangered were located, deceased, in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” the sheriff’s office stated in a Facebook post.
Men hunting Sasquatch found dead
According to officials, “Both deaths appear to be due to exposure, based on weather conditions and ill-preparedness.”
The sheriff’s office expressed gratitude to the volunteers who endured freezing temperatures, heavy rain, snow, flooding, and dense forest during their Christmas week search to bring the bodies to their grieving families.
“The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the loved ones lost in this tragic incident,” shared the office publicly.
Although officials have withheld the identity of the 59-year-old, the 37-year-old man has been identified by his family as Eric Straughter.
According to a GoFundMe page established to assist with Eric’s funeral expenses, he grew up in Merced, California, prior to moving to Portland.
The page describes him as someone who cherished the outdoors, noting that his “favorite pastime was hiking.”
Rescue team robbed during search
During the search for the two missing men, the rescue team was dealt another blow—a robbery that stripped them of vital rescue tools.
On the final day of the mission, thieves broke through a 10-foot barbed wire fence at the team’s storage area, stealing equipment essential to future rescues.
Among the items taken were a generator, custom wilderness medical kits, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), generators, wilderness medical kits, and other critical supplies.
The rescue team operates as a nonprofit group composed exclusively of volunteers who receive no compensation for their time or effort.
Sheriff Summer Scheyer voiced frustration at the theft, stating, “These people volunteer their time, their own money, time away from their families, not just for missions, but training.”
“And to have this happen to them after they spent Christmas out in the field, searching for people and returning their loved ones, is disgusting to me,” Scheyer added.
The loss of equipment, valued at several thousand dollars, has hampered future rescue operations until replacements can be secured.
Currently, the team has set up a GoFundMe campaign to recover the stolen gear and enhance security at their storage facility.
“This expensive First Responder equipment isn’t just ‘gear’—it’s what enables us to save lives,” reads the GoFundMe page. “Without it, we risk being unable to respond to emergencies like stranded hikers, river rescues, or fallen climbers.”
By the time of publication, the campaign had raised over $60,000 toward its $80,000 target. The funds will help replenish the lost equipment and safeguard the storage facility against future thefts.
I would guess that given the low life who would steal from a rescue group that they would have low life within who would turn in the theives for a reward. Offer a reward and put an end to their group and let the public know who they are.