CA CA - Robert Alan Wildoner, 76, Warm Springs in Saline Valley, 04 May 2021

[mlhenn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

5’6”
160lbs
Bald; white hair in the back
Blue eyes

Circumstances of Disappearance
Robert Wildoner is missing from the Saline Valley area of Inyo County, California.
Two trucks belonging to Wildoner are parked at Warm Springs in Saline Valley.
The missing person drove there in one truck to tend to his previously disabled truck.
It is unknown exactly what day he went missing or under what circumstances.
Inyo Sheriff and Search and Rescue are actively searching- If anyone has any information that can assist please call Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-878-0383, option 4.

 

[mlhenn]

Missing Person Alert


MISSING PERSON ALERT!
VEHICLE FOUND IN SALINE VALLEY HOT SPRINGS AREA
Missing since May 7th His name is Robert "Bob" Wildoner, he's about 5'6.
He always wears a baseball cap to protect his balding head. He's got some hair around the back of his head, and facial hair, all white.
Probably wearing shorts and a tshirt and flip flops. Possibly had a backpack with him or a robe that he would wear from the hot springs.
He was camping around the hot springs area in attempt to repair and retrieve his other truck that broke down up there over Easter Holiday.
His keys and cell phone were found in his truck at his campsite.
A small search party was sent out... no luck. The broke down truck is an F240/350 longbed and appears not to have any plates.

 

[mlhenn]

https://missingnpf.com/listing/robert-alan-wildoner/
Missing NPF Report


Bob Wildoner, 76, of Apple Valley (San Bernardino County), is being sought in the area of Saline Valley Warm Springs. He reportedly went there on May 4, 2021, to repair a pickup truck that had broken down during an outing a month before, on Easter weekend, said a missing-person alert from the sheriff’s office.

He failed to return or contact his family as expected on May 5, 2021, and he was reported missing May 8, 2021.

please note: Saline Valley Warm Springs is in a remote area of the national park, with the 55-mile drive from Big Pine taking close to three hours because of the rugged road.

https://missingnpf.com/listing/grou...oner-were-suspended-due-to-high-temperatures/

While searching for Robert Wildoner, ground search teams were called off due to temperatures reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. However, aerial search teams were able to continue with the search.

Robert Wildoner remains missing.

https://missingnpf.com/listing/the-...eam-joins-search-efforts-for-robert-wildoner/

According to Tulare County Sheriff's Office,

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team is on its way to Death Valley to help the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office find 76-year-old Robert Alan Wildoner from Apple Valley, who was recently reported missing.

Wildoner is the subject of an active Search & Rescue operation in the Saline Valley/Warm Springs area, according to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Facebook page. He possibly came into the area on May 4th with a plan to fix a vehicle previously left behind.

Today, the Tulare County Sheriff’s SAR team will join the search for Wildoner. The team includes a sergeant, three deputies and a volunteer SAR member.
The temperature is expected to be above 100 degrees.

Please keep everyone involved with this search in your prayers!

 

[mlhenn]

Log into Facebook | Tulare County Sheriff’s SAR

Update

 

[Daisypetal]

I was just in the area to camp this last weekend and saw the signs for this man.
I actually saw them in the town of Bridgeport however, which is about 4.5 hours away from the Saline Valley. It had said he was believed to be in the area on the 5th.
Had some gnarly thunderstorms when I was there. Have been thinking of him.

 

[mlhenn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

View attachment 296889
5’6”
160lbs
Bald; white hair in the back
Blue eyes

Circumstances of Disappearance
Robert Wildoner is missing from the Saline Valley area of Inyo County, California.
Two trucks belonging to Wildoner are parked at Warm Springs in Saline Valley.
The missing person drove there in one truck to tend to his previously disabled truck.
It is unknown exactly what day he went missing or under what circumstances.
Inyo Sheriff and Search and Rescue are actively searching- If anyone has any information that can assist please call Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-878-0383, option 4.

Sadly even after searches for Bob, he is still missing.

 

[mlhenn]

Another man missing at Death Valley site of 'unusual death'

Five months after an unusual death at a unique Death Valley hot springs destination, a man has gone missing in the same spot.

Robert "Bob" Wildoner was camping around the Saline Valley Hot Springs area while attempting to repair and retrieve a vehicle that broke down at the site over the Easter holiday, according to the Inyo Valley Sheriff's Office.

His keys and cell phone were found in his truck at his campsite.

 

[mlhenn]

Very latest on 76-year-old in Saline Valley Missing for a Week - Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News

SAR look for Robert Wildoner.

May 4
•last communication from Wildoner to his family that he was entering an area with poor telephone reception and would return the following day.

May 8
•at approximately 8:00pm Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified through DVNP Robert Wildoner had been reported missing.

•Wildoner had not returned from a solo trip to Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park to repair a truck that he abandoned last month.

•Wildoner was described as being familiar with the Saline Valley area but was believed to only have enough provisions for one day.

•Both trucks were located by DVNP near the Saline Valley Warm Springs Campground; however the Camp Host reported never seeing Robert Wildoner.

May 9 and 10
•ground search efforts near and around Saline Valley were accomplished, and aerial reconnaissance was provided by China Lake Naval Weapons Base and CHP Inland Division Air Operations.

May 11
•ground teams from Inyo County Search and Rescue, Mono County Search and Rescue, and CARDA (two canines) scoured the area near and around Saline Valley. Aerial recon continued with the high temperature at 94 degrees.

May 12
•ground searches were called off due to the unsafe temperature of 105 degrees

•however aerial recon continued throughout the day.

•Search teams were flown in from throughout California and spent the night (May 12)

May 13
•an early morning large-scale grid search was accomplished by the search team flown in the previous night.

May 14
•Robert Wildoner still has not been located.

•A scaled-back search continues.

 

[mlhenn]

An additional link

Man missing from Death Valley campsite in 100-degree heat

•reportedly went to Saline Valley Warm Springs on May 4 to repair a pickup truck that had broken down during an outing a month before, on Easter weekend
•failed to return or contact his family as expected on May 5, and he was reported missing May 8.
•his truck was found with his keys and phone inside of it

...

Saline Valley Warm Springs is in a remote area of the national park, with the 55-mile drive from Big Pine taking close to three hours because of the rugged road.

A ground search done on May 12 had to be called off as temperatures in Death Valley exceeded 100 degrees.

 

[Rudedog]

I was out there from May 4 to May 8. Didn't hear about the missing man until I got home. Not many people out there mid-week. Very interesting case. Why did he drive out there alone? Just how was he expecting to get both vehicles home? Why did he only have provisions for one day? That place is way out in the middle of nowhere! His truck was found with keys and cell phone but no Bob. The truck didn't drive itself. Could it be somebody else drove the truck?

 

[Rudedog]

I was out there that week!

 

[Unsolved]

FB "Help Us Find Bob" (wife) more photos and info on searches:

Log into Facebook

 

[mlhenn]

FB "Help Us Find Bob" (wife) more photos and info on searches:

Log into Facebook

It appears there is a search scheduled for next weekend (Oct 9).
Volunteers are asked to meet at the campground on the SE corner of 395 and 168 at 6:30am. Everyone will head to Saline from there.

 

[lindamichelle1]

Theres a go fund me to raise money for his search and still missing

 

[lindamichelle1]

Latest update on the FB help us find page is from January stating he is still missing.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

On May 4, 2021, Bob Wildoner, who was 76 at the time, disappearedwithout a trace while on his way to repair a disabled vehicle left in Death Valley National Park.



Written on the dusty truck was a creepy message that could be a clue in the tragic case, his devastated wife claimed.

The writing allegedly said something to the effect of "You're searching for me but I'm not here," Cindy Lee told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

It took three scorching hot days and two dark nights for rangers to finally contact the police and start searching for the man.

Wife of veteran missing for two years speaks out on cryptic clues left behind

A VETERAN has been missing for nearly two years, leaving his heartbroken family begging for answers. On May 4, 2021, Bob Wildoner, who was 76 at the time, disappeared without a trace while on his w…

www.the-sun.com