On January 1, 2015 at about 6:43 AM the Coos County Sheriff’s Office received information of a missing watchman from a logging operation in the Upper Rock Creek area of Coos County. This area is in the eastern reaches of Coos County off Highway 42 near milepost 42. Deputies began to start a search and rescue operation. Coos County Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 9:42 AM. The logging operation is part of the Whitaker Logging Company. They are working an area on Upper Rock Creek for Plum Creek timberlands. It was reported the night watchman had last been seen on Tuesday evening at approximately 1 AM. On Thursday morning at approximately 1 AM workers arrived at the site and noticed the Watchman’s trailer was unoccupied and the wood stove fire cold. The temperatures in the area had been in the 20’s and 30’s during those nights. It was 28 degrees Fahrenheit upon the deputy’s arrival. Immediately friends and coworkers began searching the area for the subject. It was learned that Guy Richard Abel, 53 years old of Myrtle Point was the missing person. Upon the deputies arrival friends of Mr. Abel had located him approximately 1 mile from his camp trailer. He was deceased. The deputy responded to the scene and conducted a scene investigation on the older logging road. The Coos County Medical Examiner’s Office was contacted by phone and consulted. In the examination of the scene it is unknown what caused Mr. Abel to go to this particular location on his 2 wheel drive ATV. Mr. Abel had a disability that caused him to have to walk with crutches at all times. It was reported that he never went anywhere without his crutches strap to the ATV. In this particular instance the crutches were left at the campsite. The initial scene investigation led to a preliminary determination that Mr. Abel had succumbed to the elements while at the site. The ATV was stuck and unable to be removed by Mr. Abel and he was unable to walk back to camp. The Bridge Rural Fire department was contacted to assist in the recovery of Mr. Able’s body. They responded to the scene and assisted in taking him to a coworker’s pickup. His body was then transported by pickup the 7 miles down to a location where he was able to be turned over to the mortuary. Family members as well as friends were on scene and assisted in the search and recovery of Mr. Abel. At this time the Coos County Medical Examiner’s Office has taken over the investigation into the cause and manner of death of Guy Richard Abel.
