OR OR - Michael James Scofield, 39, Vehicle at Rooster Rock trailhead, Keizer, 17 August 2020

ChatteringBirds

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  • #1
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
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Michael James Scofield
Missing Person / NamUs #MP76104
Male, White / Caucasian

Date of Last Contact: August 17, 2020
Missing From: Keizer, Oregon

Missing Age: 39 Years
Current Age: 40 Years

Height: 5' 11" (71 Inches)
Weight: 180 lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description
Slightly balding on top; Short style
Facial Hair Description: Full beard
Eye Color: Green

NamUs Case Created: December 2, 2020

Last Known Location
Keizer, Oregon 97303
Marion County

Circumstances of Disappearance
On 8/18/20, Scofield uncharacteristically did not show for work. His employer phoned family and they immediately went to his home and found several personal belongings still at the residence, including his phone, car keys and wallet (ID was missing). His family stated that Scofield is an avid hiker; however, all his typical hiking gear was left at his residence.

His vehicle was located at the Rooster Rock trailhead, with a note, but Scofield has not been located.

Additional Case Info
Transportation
2019 Subaru
Style: Hatchback
Color: White
State: Oregon
License Plate: 602LVL
Expiration Year: 2023

Comments
Vehicle was located. See note below.
Transportation Notes
SCOFIELD's 2019 Subura Cross-Track, bearing OR LP 602LVL, was located on 8/19/20 at Rooster Rock Trailhead in Clackamas County, Oregon (GPS coordinates: 44.941525, -122.324076).
 
  • #2
Let's help bring him home.
Keys were left at home; did he use a spare pair to drive to the trail?
Left his hiking gear; only planned a short hike?
But left his phone at home
And a note was in his car. I don't like where this is going and really hope he is okay.
 
  • #3
Well, I am attaching two screenshots but they aren't great. The Oregon wildfires were after he disappeared and I am not sure the fires reached Rooster Rock Trailhead or not. But the first pic is showing from Keizer to that trailhead. The second is one of the fire maps. If his gear was left at his home, I am assuming he didn't go hiking and camping and probably wouldn't have been camping for the time between him disappearing and the fires anyway. I hope his family gets answers :(
ETA: I did some searches and can't find anything on him.


Keizer to RR.png Oregon Wildfires.png
 
  • #4
Thanks for the pictures. I couldn't find more searching either - yet.

I wonder if the note was due to vehicle issues; did he have to abandon his vehicle? And try to get back out?
Or was it a personal note?
:(
 
  • #5
I forgot about the note. Good questions. I do wonder if it was a "final" note :(
 
  • #6
Doesn't sound good, my thoughts are with his loved ones :(
 
  • #7
Bumping up. It doesn't seem he was located. In these cases I wish LE would go out this time of year when there's more visibility (less foliage) and search again. I know the wilderness is vast. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
 
  • #8
  • #9
  • #10
IMO those 2 would be unlikely related, since the car was so far away from the watershed with the remains: they're, like, totally different universes. However, now we have 2 people to work out....
They were found sixteen miles apart - that does not seem far at all. Especially if you're an avid hiker - avid hikers easily put down 10-12 mile hikes in a day hike.
 
  • #11
They were found sixteen miles apart - that does not seem far at all. Especially if you're an avid hiker - avid hikers easily put down 10-12 mile hikes in a day hike.
Screen shot from Google maps reflecting coordinates on NAMUS, road distance, and driving distance.... the two sets of coordinates are on opposite sides of I-5 and the Willamette River.

Screenshot 2023-03-19 at 6.37.36 PM.png


MS's car was found at Rooster Rock trailhead, per NAMUS.
Note there's more than one Rooster Rock in Oregon, which quite complicates this if the reporting is not exactly familiar with on-the-ground. The one I've indicated in this map corresponds to the GPS coordinates, and is in Clackamas County in the Molalla watershed. But, there's no "Rooster Rock Trailhead" there AFAIK: you get to Rooster Rock via other trails. Furthermore, THE Rooster Rock trailhead is off Hwy 20 in the Willamette State Forest. And THE Rooster Rock State Park is in the Columbia River Gorge, just east of Clackamas. There is no Rooster Rock in Keizer AFAIK (which is actually a city abutting Salem).
 
  • #12
  • #13
Bumping up. It doesn't seem he was located. In these cases I wish LE would go out this time of year when there's more visibility (less foliage) and search again. I know the wilderness is vast. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
I know I'm late to this response, but in December, this would be deep snow, and no chance of finding remains.
 
  • #14
I know I'm late to this response, but in December, this would be deep snow, and no chance of finding remains.

Thank you for the "local" information.
 
  • #15
Thank you for the "local" information.
This case really interests me. I hadn't noticed it before. The Molalla watershed is actually one of the few areas in OR I haven't explored. I've seen all the other Rooster Rocks!
 
  • #16
Bumping case up one more time.
 

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