AZ AZ - Jeffrey Stambaugh, 63, didn't return to campground, poss injured ankle, Prescott, 29 Sept 2022

GuyfromCanada

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  • #1
A 63-year-old missing man disappeared from an Arizona campground and hasn’t been seen in days, authorities said. Jeffrey Gordon Stambaugh was reported missing on Sept. 29 after he never returned to his campground in the Granite Basin Recreation Area in Prescott, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said Stambaugh may have an injured ankle and left the camping area by foot. He doesn’t have any known medical issues. Rescuers looked for Stambaugh on trails and used a drone, KPNX reported.

Two bears were reported in the area after rangers found dead animals that were killed by them, the news outlet reported.

Stambaugh has gray hair, hazel eyes, weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet, 9 inches tall.

Anyone with information can contact the sheriff’s office at 928-771-3260 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.

Prescott is about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

f7028c57-b0da-45a3-9261-f553ea03b86d_750x422.jpg



 
  • #2
*Photos of the search area at link*

Yavapai County Search and Rescue K9 Team
This weekend YCSR Teams K9, Back Country, 4x4. OHV, Southern and Verde SAR all took part in the search of 63 yr old Jeff Stambaugh who was last seen hiking in Granite mountain near Granite lake on Weds. 09/29/22. The Search Dog Unit worked with Verde SAR, whom we have cross trained and worked with in the past. Our dogs were able to work for 3 hours thanks to the forest cover, clouds and water in the creeks. All the teams worked hard until thunder strikes called the search off. This area is vast, mountainous and with heavy vegetation. The search will continue tomorrow. We pray that Jeff will be found.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
**MISSING PERSON**
YCSO is asking for help locating Jeffrey Stambaugh, a 63-year-old missing from Granite Basin Camp Ground since September 29. If you have any information please contact the sheriff’s office at (928) 771-3260 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
309347309_460578026095233_8785094314461172975_n.jpg
 
  • #3
*Photos of the search area at link*

Yavapai County Search and Rescue K9 Team
This weekend YCSR Teams K9, Back Country, 4x4. OHV, Southern and Verde SAR all took part in the search of 63 yr old Jeff Stambaugh who was last seen hiking in Granite mountain near Granite lake on Weds. 09/29/22. The Search Dog Unit worked with Verde SAR, whom we have cross trained and worked with in the past. Our dogs were able to work for 3 hours thanks to the forest cover, clouds and water in the creeks. All the teams worked hard until thunder strikes called the search off. This area is vast, mountainous and with heavy vegetation. The search will continue tomorrow. We pray that Jeff will be found.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
**MISSING PERSON**
YCSO is asking for help locating Jeffrey Stambaugh, a 63-year-old missing from Granite Basin Camp Ground since September 29. If you have any information please contact the sheriff’s office at (928) 771-3260 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
309347309_460578026095233_8785094314461172975_n.jpg
Wow, the area looks impossible to search properly.
 
  • #4
Are bears in Arizona common?

I would've thought it'd be way too hot for them.

It's not a natural habitat for them, is it?
 
  • #5
Jeffrey's date of disappearance has changed. According to YCSO FB post Jeffrey was last seen on Wed, 30 Sep 2022. The new details leave me with a few questions:

1. Did Jeffrey and his friend ever meet up and, if so, when and where?
2. What prompted the friend to file MP report?
3. Did Jeffrey miss a planned meeting with his friend?
4. What else does the camp host have to say about the phone charging incident?
5. Was Jeffrey alone at that time?
6. Did Jeffrey give any indication where he was going or what he would be doing while the phone was charging?
7. Did he and the camp host agree on a time Jeffrey would come back to get the phone?

The original report mentions Jeffrey may have an injured ankle and that he left on foot. Who reported this to LE? When/where/how did the injury happen? Does anyone know where he may have been headed when he left on foot and why? If he left on foot how did his vehicle end up at the Metate Trailhead? I hope members who are familiar with the area will provide maps to help us understand the locations mentioned.

MOO

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
5 Oct 2022
BBM

YCSO PERSONNEL AND SEARCH AND RESCUE UNITS ON DAY FIVE OF SEARCH FOR MISSING CAMPER PRESCOTT ARIZONA

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers have been searching relentlessly over the past five days for missing camper 63-year-old Jeffrey Gordon Stambaugh of Tucson who has not been seen since 10:30am September 30th, 2022. Stambaugh made reservations at the Yavapai Campground within the Granite Basin Recreation Area for Tuesday September 27th thru Thursday September 29th. When he arrived in town on Tuesday, Stambaugh sent a text message to a friend in the area asking if they'd like to meet up at some point. The friend later reported Stambaugh missing. On Wednesday September 30th around 10:30am, Stambaugh asked the camp host to charge his phone. He left it and hasn't been seen since. YCSO received the missing person report on Saturday October 1. YCSO Deputies and Search and Rescue units have since located Stambaugh’s vehicle at the Metate Trailhead and covered every trail and rugged wilderness area near and around the trailhead, Granite Basin, and Yavapai Campground. YCSO personnel has been utilizing search and rescue resources including drones, helicopter, k9’s, 4x4 and OHV units. The search effort continues, and the teams will regroup this afternoon to discuss the plan moving forward.

If you have any information regarding Stambaugh’s whereabouts, please call YCSO (928)-771-3260 or
Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
 
  • #6
  • #7

PHOENIX — It has been two weeks since 63-year-old Jeffrey Stambaugh was last seen at the Granite Basin Campground in Yavapai County on the morning of Sept. 30.

His sister Pam Chambers says that time has felt like an eternity.
"It's been a lot of restless nights and it's tough," she said. "It's really tough. It's hard to believe there isn't a sign or trace of him when they've done all that they've done. The helicopters, the people, the drones, the dogs, search parties every day, where is he?"

Article continues at link.

******************
Video

 
  • #8
I have not seen any MSM updates since mid-October.

On Wednesday September 30th around 10:30am, Stambaugh asked the camp host to charge his phone. He left it and hasn't been seen since.

I am curious if LE or the family were able to gain access to Jeff's phone to see if he documented a possible hiking route in the park.
 
  • #9
  • #10
  • #11
Poor Jeff, man. How terrifying.
 
  • #12
Just saw this video. AZ is my home state and I've camped a lot in Granite Basin as a kid. Very rugged indeed.

 

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