FL FL - Bret Valona 36, "Primitive Outdoorsman," missed checkpoint, dropped off Eastern Lake Trailhead pkg lot, Port Washington State Forest, 1 Mar 2025

[Unalienable Rights]

Walton Co. Sheriff

@WCSOFL

March 30, 2025

WCSO, WALTON CORRECTIONAL K-9 TEAMS SEARCHING FOR 36-YEAR-OLD "PRIMITIVE OUTDOORSMAN" NEAR EASTERN LAKE TRAILHEAD The

@WCSOFL
and
@FL_Corrections

Walton CI K-9 Team are currently in the area of the Eastern Lake Trailhead searching for a 36-year-old reported missing by his sister.

Brett Valona was last seen approximately four weeks ago when he was dropped off at the trailhead. Valona is an avid outdoorsman who uses minimal equipment and gear to camp and survive. Before the missing persons report to our agency, it was not unusual for Valona to go without being heard from for three weeks at a time. However, his family hopes to make contact with him to ensure he is okay.

He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and Dickies khaki pants and had a yellow rainjacket. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and a sandy brown goatee. If you have any information about Valona's whereabouts, you're asked to contact the Walton County Sheriff's Office at (850)-892-8111.


NamUs:

Missing Person / NamUs #MP141148

View NamUs missing persons case MP141148, for Bret Kyle Valona, missing from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Date of last contact: Mar 01, 2025. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Missing Age
36 Years
Current Age
36 Years

First Name
Bret
Middle Name
Kyle
Last Name
Valona
Nickname/Alias
--
Sex
Male
Race / Ethnicity
White / Caucasian
Height
6'-1" - (73 - inches) --
Weight
190 - lbs --

Date of Last Contact
March 1, 2025
NamUs Case Created
March 30, 2025

Last Known Location (Map)
Location
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
County
Walton County

Missing From Tribal Land
No
Primary Residence on Tribal Land
No
Circumstances of Disappearance
Male was dropped off at 1137 S Co Highway 395 in Santa Rosa Beach, FL at the Eastern Trail parking lot on 03/01/2025 and has not been heard from since. Last seen wearing a flannel shirt, khaki colored dickie shorts, yellow rain jacket and two back packs. Male has short brown hair, blue eyes, and a goatee.

(April 7)

https://www.wdhn.com/news/top-stories/outdoorsman-missing-in-the-florida-panhandle/

April 7, 2025

36-year-old Bret Valona is known as a “primitive outdoorsman”. He uses minimal equipment to camp, and survives off the land for up to 3 weeks at a time.

His family dropped him off at the Point Washington State Forest in early March, but haven’t heard from him. After he failed to check-in, his sister reported him missing to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office last Friday.

*****
Deputies say they don’t think Valona has a communication device with him.

“From what we’re understanding is that he tends to either sleep on the ground or possibly up in a tree if the weather’s nice.....

*****
The search continued Monday, with deputies searching on bicycles. They say they’ve received reports of Valona sightings, but they were 2 weeks old.

Law enforcement, friends and family still searching for missing “primitive outdoorsman”

36-year-old Bret Valona was reported missing by his sister. He was reportedly last seen about 6 weeks ago when he was dropped off at the Eastern Lake trailhead.

www.wjhg.com

April 11, 2025

-One military veteran is still missing in Walton County.

36-year-old Bret Valona was reported missing by his sister. He was reportedly last seen about 6 weeks ago when he was dropped off at the Eastern Lake trailhead.

 

[Knox]

What kind if terrain is this area in and what are the dangers?

 

[GraceG]

This trip advisor page on the park has a lot of pictures posted by people who have visited, hiked the area. Doesn't look like rugged (as in upsloping or rocky) terrain from what I can see, though there is water that could become more serious with heavy rains.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34617-d6033684-Reviews-Point_Washington_State_Forest-Santa_Rosa_Beach_Florida.html#/media/6033684/467892929:p/?albumid=-160&type=0&category=-160

I'd be more worried about snakes and such in the area, than other wildlife. The snakes of South Walton

 

[starlightstarbright]

Are there alligators there? I do a lot of hiking and off grid sort of camping, but I don’t think I’d want to be just sleeping on the ground in gator country.

 

[GraceG]

Are there alligators there? I do a lot of hiking and off grid sort of camping, but I don’t think I’d want to be just sleeping on the ground in gator country.

There's bayous and water and it's Florida, there will be alligators, but I'm sure if he's from here and if this type of outdoors activiity is what he's experienced in - he knows where best to sleep in such areas.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Family launches new search for missing 36-year-old Marine veteran in Walton County

Family members are traveling from Wisconsin to Florida to look for Bret Valona, a 36-year-old Iraq War veteran who disappeared nearly two months ago while camping in a state forest.

www.getthecoast.com

*****
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Walton Correctional K-9 Team, conducted a search operation on March 30 in the area of the Eastern Lake Trailhead.

Family members said they later learned Valona had been experiencing suicidal thoughts and fear he may have harmed himself.

*****
A new search effort is scheduled to begin April 24 at 10 a.m. at the Eastern Lake Trailhead in Santa Rosa Beach. Family members, who reside in Wisconsin, are organizing to travel to Florida to conduct the search.

*****
The family has established a Facebook group called “Search Efforts for Bret Valona” to coordinate their efforts and share information.

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