Police found his red Jeep Sunday morning, but several hours went on with no word on his whereabouts
This is a developing story and will be updated.
FORT DAVIS — A Pecos, Texas, area man — Jonathan Miller, 26 — went missing near Fort Davis late Friday night, prompting an extensive search by authorities on Sunday morning. Miller had been heading to the Davis Mountain Preserve in his red jeep to camp with friends, according to family and friends.
The Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office reported on its Facebook Page at 8 p.m. Sunday that he had been found “safe,” although no other details were offered about what led to the nearly two-day disappearance. “We are relieved to report that the missing individual has been found safe,” stated a post from Jeff Davis County Sheriff Victor Lopez. “He is currently being escorted back into town and will undergo a medical evaluation.”
On Sunday morning, Facebook posts from Miller’s family quickly spread alerting the public to be on the lookout for Miller, as well as an official post from authorities around 10 a.m. noting: “Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office has launched air support from local residents as well as a DPS helicopter to aid in the search.”
Miller’s nephew, Tristan Miller, told The Big Bend Sentinel at 12:40 p.m. Sunday that authorities had found Miller’s jeep, although he hadn’t heard exactly where.
Greg Unruh — of Saragosa, near Balmoreah — who employs Miller, said Miller was heading to the preserve to camp with a group that included his son. A text came in to his son from Miller saying he was about 40 miles out from arriving. “I’m suspecting he got lost,” Unluh said. “He relies quite heavily on GPS. Once you leave Fort Davis heading to the preserve, you get a little service at [McDonald] Observatory, then that’s it.”
Unruh said Sunday a Department of Public Safety officer told him the jeep was stuck in the mud in Madera Creek. “It sounds like John[athan] abandoned it there and started walking,” he said. Unluh said a DPS helicopter had been scouring the area all day.
The Davis Mountain Preserve is about 33,000 mountainous acres owned by The Nature Conservancy, with mountain peaks topping 8,000 feet. The preserve is about 24 miles northwest of Fort Davis off of Highway 118, and it opens on select weekends to the public — including this weekend.
This story was updated at 7 p.m. on Sunday to include numerous details on the location of the jeep, as well as a clarification that Jonathan Miller now lives south of Pecos and is Tristan’s uncle. The story was updated at 8 p.m. Sunday to note that Miller had been found.