The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to search for a 76-year-old Oakridge man, missing since last week, who may be lost in the Willamette National Forest near Salmon Creek Road.

Jean Fritz Pierre Louis

Jean Fritz Pierre Louis reportedly had gone mushroom picking in the forest days before he was reported missing Thursday, Oct. 16. Friends said they were uncertain of Louis’ whereabouts, but his car had been seen on Forest Service Road 2409 off of Salmon Creek Road several days before.

On Oct. 16, Louis’ car was located on a spur off forest road 2409. Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue have been searching on foot and on horseback, using of dogs and drones as well. Search and rescue members from Linn County also have assisted.

Louis is described as a Black male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds with white hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was last wearing.

While investigators believe Louis is lost in the area, anyone with information on his possible whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1.

Mike McInally is a Pacific Northwest journalist with four decades of experience in Oregon and Montana, including stints as editor of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Albany Democrat-Herald.