ILLINOIS VALLEY, Ore.– *UPDATE*: The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 63-year-old Russel Wilcox has been found deceased.
On Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office was notified about an unoccupied vehicle located down an embankment on a forest service road south of Takilma by Christmas Tree Hunters. Once deputies arrived, it was confirmed to belong to Wilcox. A body was later located at the bottom of a 100-foot embankment, just below the vehicle.
However, because of night conditions and steep terrain, recovery efforts weren’t made until Saturday morning. It was then police were able to identify the body as Wilcox.
Wilcox was reported missing the night of November 29 after he was last seen driving on Waldo Road with Grants Pass as his destination. After that report, Josephine County Search and Rescue had been actively searching for Mr. Wilcox with the assistance of IV Cert, IV Fire, Del Norte Co, Douglas Co, Siskiyou Co and Jackson Co.
12/01/19 — Josephine County Search and Rescue wants you to be on the lookout for a missing man.
Illinois Valley Fire District says their searching for Russell Wilcox. They say he was last seen on Waldo Road in Josephine County on Thursday.
Wilcox is 5 feet 8 inches tall and 220 pounds with white hair and blue eyes. They say Wilcox has dementia and other medical conditions.
He was last known to be driving a 2002-2006 GMC pickup with a canopy and Oregon plates. If you see him or his truck you’re asked to call 911.
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