PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The search for the former mayor of Cornelius, Ralph Brown, continues more than two weeks since he was last seen leaving his home near the 600 block of S 12th Avenue on May 16.
Brown, 76, has memory issues, his family said. He was in a 2014 Blue Nissan Sentra with Oregon license plate number 319KQV. He is 5-feet-10, 210 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. He’s missing the tip of his right-hand index finger.
On Thursday, his family and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office held a 10:30 a.m. press conference in Hillsboro. Also on Thursday, the Washington County Search and Rescue Team searched the Hess Creek area south of Newberg.
Over the past 2 weeks, searchers haven’t found any trace of Brown. GPS signals determined his last known location and searchers have used drones, boats and airplanes to look, along with ground crews. Officials said there hasn’t been any cell phone or bank activity since he was last seen.
His car, which does not have GPS, has not yet been found.
WCSO Sgt. Danny DiPietro said if someone spots evidence of a car leaving the road, call police. “If we can find that car, we can get an active search and rescue operation underway.”
One of the volunteer organizers, Sue, said Fred Meyer and McDonald’s are among his favorite spots. They’ve been searching side roads, open waters, creeks.
“Our big problem now is we still have a lot of people who think Ralph has been found,” she said.
Call the Washington County Sheriff at 503.629.0111 if you have seen him. If you would like to volunteer email: findralphbrown@gmail.com.