OH OH - Michael Vangelas, 42, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Northfield, 14 Jan 2026- Active Search

[Betty P]

Michael Vangelas, 42, from New Orleans, LA was visiting CVNP. His 2024 white Toyota Corolla was seen entering was first seen entering the park on Jan. 14. On Jan. 16, his car was found abandoned at the Brandywine Falls trailhead parking lot, after a snowstorm. Michael is 5'10" with brown hair and brown eyes.

Missing person search underway at Cuyahoga Valley National Park after car found abandoned

Park rangers search for Michael Vangelas after his car was found abandoned at Brandywine Falls Trailhead in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

www.news5cleveland.com

Search Intensifies for Missing Man at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Authorities Seek Public's Assistance

Michael Vangelas, 42, is missing after entering Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Jan 14. His white Toyota Corolla was found at Brandywine Falls Trailhead following a snowstorm. Authorities are seeking information and have established a tip line.

hoodline.com

The National Park Service has set a dedicated tip line to gather details that might aid in locating Vangelas. In a statement obtained by FOX8, the public is asked to come forward and "call 911 or the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009" to possibly help to effectively expedite this ongoing search. Individuals can also submit tips online or via email at the addresses provided by park officials.

Rangers and a search and rescue team have been combing the park thoroughly since the discovery of Vangelas' abandoned vehicle. While officials have not released detailed information concerning the circumstances leading to Vangelas' disappearance, they continue to ask for anyone who was in the vicinity of Brandywine Falls from Jan. 14 to 16 to reach out with any observations that may be relevant.

Parking lot at Brandywine Falls

Google Maps

Explore a place through a 360° photo.

www.google.com

Google Maps location
Entrance to the trailhead parking lot

Google Maps

Explore a place through a 360° photo.

www.google.com

 

[GraceG]

That's a beautiful park, but I never visited it in the winter when I lived in Ohio. The 15th was very cold, down to single digits at night. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/northfield/44067/january-weather/340014. It's been too many years since I was there - does anyone know if there are any outbuildings or shelters along that trailhead now?

 

[Vaderman]

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/01/22/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-seeks-information-on-missing-man-michael-vangelas-brandywine-falls/88305393007/

According to park rangers, Michael Vangelas drove into the park on Jan. 14 in a white 2024 Toyota Corolla with Louisiana plates N639099. On Jan. 16 his car was found abandoned at the Brandywine Falls trailhead after a snowstorm. A search and rescue team was assembled and is still actively searching the area.

 

[Vaderman]

It'd be helpful if they provided more info into his headspace on when he left/what was his stated purpose for the trip.

It was bitter cold and snowy around that time. Did he know going in?

 

[MntnHiker]

I just visited this park last summer, including the Brandywine Falls trailhead. In July, this parking lot was packed. I'm sure there were very few people there in the dead of winter. We stuck to the upper trail that was all boardwalk and a very easy, short walk to give you a view of the falls, but you could also take stairs down and go lower down to the falls. There is also a towpath that winds through the park and in the warm months, lots of people bike it. I wonder if he parked at this trailhead and left that immediate trail area to walk elsewhere? In general, areas of interest are kind of spread out in the park. Just surprised he hasn't been found if he stayed right there near the falls.

 

[GraceG]

I had no luck finding any social media or travel history for him yesterday with his name as a Louisiana resident but found a man with his name, and age, from Lake Placid Florida, driving a 2023 Nissan Centra involved in a vehicle crash and cited for for "failure to control" (NOT speeding but the roads were very slick) in Logan County Ohio 3 days prior to his going missing. The vehicle was towed so the car found at the park with the Louisiana plates MAY have been a rental if that was indeed the same person. Slick roads contribute to Logan County crash - Peak of Ohio

 

[Caring1]

It appears that this may be Michael since he is mentioned in the article. So very sad for his family

January 24, 2026

A "recently missing man" was found dead around 11 a.m. Jan. 24 in the Brandywine Falls area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) by National Park Service rangers.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/01/24/missing-man-michael-vangelas-found-dead-in-cuyahoga-valley-national-park-brandywine-falls-area/88340429007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115237p115950c115950d00----v115237d--45--b--45--&gca-ft=39&gca-ds=sophi

 

[Betty P]

It appears that this may be Michael since he is mentioned in the article. So very sad for his family

January 24, 2026

A "recently missing man" was found dead around 11 a.m. Jan. 24 in the Brandywine Falls area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) by National Park Service rangers.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/01/24/missing-man-michael-vangelas-found-dead-in-cuyahoga-valley-national-park-brandywine-falls-area/88340429007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115237p115950c115950d00----v115237d--45--b--45--&gca-ft=39&gca-ds=sophi

How sad. It sounds like he was found near the falls area and not farther away along the adjacent hiking trail. There’s a large gorge area a below the falls with steep sides, almost inaccessible . It’s possible he was down below that area and not seen for a while.

It’s been very, very cold in the area, but tourists still visit. There are still quite a few out of state license plates and RVs around. The nearby skil slopes are busy. It appears he was traveling alone, though. Even so, there was probably someone who was missing him, but perhaps didn’t know where he was traveling.

RIP.