On Saturday, April 6, 2024, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the body of a 54-year male from New Mexico, who had been reported missing and presumed drowned two days earlier while clamming in Netarts Bay. “On Thursday, April 4, at around 8:30 pm, an adult male and female were clamming on a sand bar in upper part of Netarts Bay, near the junction of Whiskey Creek Rd and Netarts Bay Dr, when they mis-judged the incoming tide and decided to swim across to shore,” said TCSO Marine Deputy Dennis Greiner.
“The woman made it to shore and turned around to look for the man, but could not see him. The last time she saw him he had water up to his neck. The man was also wearing waders. She immediately called 911.” Tillamook Ambulance medics responded and remained on scene as personnel from TCSO, Netarts-Oceanside Fire, Garibaldi Fire Rescue and the US Coast Guard searched the water and shoreline for the missing man. Tillamook 911 dispatchers assisted responding units, and a USCG Helicopter from Astoria responded and searched for as long as their fuel load would allow.
“We all searched for approximately three hours without success,” said Deputy Greiner. “The helicopter stayed on scene searching for some time, and we returned at daybreak on Friday and searched for several more hours.” On Saturday, April 6, 2024, at about 5:30pm, Tillamook 911 received a call from people that were crabbing at Netarts Bay, that they had located a deceased man partially in the water. TCSO Deputies and OSP Troopers responded to an area close to where the missing man was last seen alive two days prior.
“Corporal Chris Barnett and I walked out to the reported location and found a deceased adult male lying prone in the sand,” said Deputy David Bartlett. “It was determined to be the man who had been reported missing on April 4. He was still wearing black waist-high waders, a zippered jacket, and yellow gloves. I observed no suspicious injuries.” The family of the deceased has been notified and the reports have been forwarded to Tillamook County Medical Examiner, Dr. Paul Betlinski and the District Attorney per protocol.
