MN MN - Wayne Storch, 74, from New Richmond WI, vehicle found Gunflint Trail at Pine Mountain Lake Trailhead, Grand Marais, last seen 18 Sep 2025

[Unalienable Rights]

New Richmond Police Department WI

❗️Missing/Endangered Person❗️ Please be on the lookout for Wayne Storch. He was last seen on September 18th. He may be driving a gray 2020 Ford Escape bearing Wisconsin registration ATT-4935. The...

www.facebook.com

Missing/Endangered Person

Please be on the lookout for Wayne Storch. He was last seen on September 18th. He may be driving a gray 2020 Ford Escape bearing Wisconsin registration ATT-4935. The vehicle has a United States Marine Corps sticker on the back of the vehicle. If located, please contact local law enforcement.

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Searches for a Missing Person

www.co.cook.mn.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Searches for a Missing Person

September 25, 2025—The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing person in the area of Pine Mountain Lake.

Wayne Storch, a 74-year-old man from New Richmond Wisconsin, is believed to be somewhere in the vicinity of Pine Mountain Lake.

Storch has been missing since September 18. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office discovered his vehicle parked on the side of the Gunflint Trail at the Pine Mountain Lake trailhead access on September 24.

Cook County Search and Rescue, the U.S. Forest Service, and other assisting agencies are in the process of searching for Storch.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 387-3030.

Missing Wisconsin man's vehicle found in Grand Marais, search underway | WTIP

A missing Wisconsin man’s vehicle was found on Sept. 24 in Grand Marais, parked at the Pine Mountain Lake trailhead access up the Gunflint Trail. The missing man, identified as Wayne Storch, 74, is from New Richmond, Wisc., and has been missing since Sept. 18, according to the Cook County...

wtip.org

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Search for missing Wisconsin man on Gunflint Trail yields no results, family holds onto hope | WTIP

Despite two weeks of searching near the Gunflint Trail, efforts to locate 74-year-old Wayne Storch of New Richmond, Wisc., have not yielded results. Cook County Search and Rescue, along with Storch’s family and community volunteers, have concentrated their efforts around the Pine Mountain Lake...

wtip.org

October 4, 2025

Despite two weeks of searching near the Gunflint Trail, efforts to locate 74-year-old Wayne Storch of New Richmond, Wisc., have not yielded results.

Cook County Search and Rescue, along with Storch’s family and community volunteers, have concentrated their efforts around the Pine Mountain Lake trailhead, about 12 miles up the Gunflint Trail, where his vehicle was discovered.
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Search efforts have included the use of K-9 and cadaver dogs. Crews have also expanded their search to nearby Pickerel Lake and surrounding high points in hopes of uncovering even the slightest clue about Wayne’s whereabouts.

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Earlier this week, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office suspended the search efforts given the limited personnel and minimal search success.

“We plan on resuming the search with drones and foot searching tactics when the leaves fall and give us a better chance to see,” said Sheriff Pat Eliasen.

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The family has offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who helps bring Wayne home.

 

[FoxxTraxx]

Gunflint Trail

The Gunflint Trail is a wild and remote area in extreme northeast Minnesota near the Canadian border. The roadway runs 57 miles through forests and close to Lake Superior at times. It's a tough place to be lost, especially with winter approaching. I hope they can find Wayne very soon.

Gunflint Trail MN

 

[GraceG]

His address of record is still Wisconsin (very minor traffic infraction in 2020, but that's the only record).