After large Search Mission, Police Locate Body Believed to be Missing North Bend Hunter

According to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) press release, the body believed to be that of a missing 55-year old North Bend man Thomas Steig was found.

GCSO said body was discovered around 9:45AM, November 25, 2015 just south of last known cell phone tower coordinates near Crab Creek, west of Royal City, which is about 50 miles east of Ellensburg.

Steig was reported missing on Friday, November 20th after he didn’t make contact with his family and return from a one day bow hunting trip. The Grant steigCounty Sheriff’s Office had conducted a large search for the missing hunter.

Nearly 100 staff and volunteers from Fairchild AFB, Grant County Search and Rescue, Mounted Posse, Grant County Fire District 10 and 11, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Spokane Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and numerous civilian volunteers had searched on the ground, on horseback and ATV/ORV since Saturday, November 21st.

Civilian aircraft also volunteered for the search, as well as a helicopter from the Spokane Sheriff’s Office and a plane from Fairchild Air Force Base. The search was called off by GCSO on November 23rd due to cold weather and snow.

While official cause of death has not been determined, GCSO stated that it appeared that Steig fell, with no indication of foul play.

GCSO Sheriff Tom Jones said, “This is the saddest possible outcome for everyone involved in trying to bring Mr. Steig home to his family. Our sincerest condolences to his family and friends for their heartbreaking loss.”

In an earlier press release, GCSO said this was the second case missing sportsman in Grant County over the past couple of weeks. In early November they also responded when a 65-year-old man was reported missing by his family. The man’s unoccupied boat was found floating in Long Lake in south Grant County, and it’s believed he fell into the water, but police have not yet located his body.

 

Photo: screenshot google maps
Photo: screenshot google maps

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