(4-Resolved/No Issue) Donald Masters Search-Found (Facts Only)

[Mellow]

"Donald Masters left Orofino, ID, Monday, August 31, headed for West Yellowstone and then on to Denver. He has not been seen or heard from since. We have reason to believe he may have gone missing Monday (he was due into Denver Wednesday). He was riding a black 2008 Goldwing, Colorado Plate #327-UTH."

Last known Status:

DONALD WAS FOUND ON 9/20/2009
ANNOUNCEMENT - MEMORIAL THREAD

- Credit Card purchase for gas in Lolo, MT on Auguest 31th, 2009 @ 3:30 MT on way to West Yellowstone.
- At 4:30 MT that day, traffic cameras caught him as well:

Cell phone triangulation - due to lack of coverage, there is not current cell phone signal that can be located.
================================================== =
Update for 9/19/2009 Search Effort:
PLEASE JOIN IN THE SEARCH FOR DONALD MASTERS:
Saturday 9/19/2009
9:30am
Gatehouse Inn
580 Sinclair St
Dillon, MT 59725

We will be having Search Team gathering at a conference room at Guesthouse Inn in Dillon,MT

Colorado Friend is paying for the coffee and pastries to be available in the morning and pizza in the afternoon.

They will keep the room open until 9:30 pm, Pizza to be delivered beginning at 4:30 pm.

GuestHouse International Inn & Suites - Dillon, MT
Phone (406) 683-3636
Fax: (406) 683-3637

Map at the website below:
http://www.guesthouseintl.com/location-MT-Dillon.htm
http://snipurl.com/rz1bb
----
Please spread the word about the big push to search Saturday. There won't be any organized effort from the local sheriff's office but we are trying to get them to come with maps. Also, don't forget that it is hunting season so 1. beware, 2. wear bright colors, 3. spread the word to hunters, fishermen, Veterans, 4. come to the Guesthouse Inn in Dillon, MT Saturday. GKK
=================================================
Update: 9/18/2009
The Ravalli County Sheriff's office is pressing for more cell tower data (likely obtained from Verizon or whoever owns the towers) to tie down the tower location of the 18:42 voice mail check.
Update: 9/14/2009
The family has a Helicopter involved now that is do to arrive in Darby at 1:30MT.
Update: 9/13/2009
Call from Dave Grossman.

He spoke to a Hamilton LEO - they have a traffic cam in Darby, MT that they are 95% sure it was
Donald. That was at around 4:30 pm on the 31st. They are pretty sure he'd take 93 south from there and towards Salmon or to 43 to I-15 towards Dillon.

That puts him in Dillon around 7pm, maybe.

There was an outgoing phone call from his phone to a Seattle number at 4:30pm MST which is inline with that. Dave is following up more on the call - it appears to have been a call to check voice mail.

So, looks like Lolo to Darby can be ruled out.
Update: 9/11/2009:
- A Credit Card purchase in Denver on Sept 8th was noted in Denver, CO - hopefully, he's okay - this is being confirmed. - update, this was some type of automated charge which was actually on the Sept 1st. The search is still on.

-PDF poster added.
-Yellowstone NP has had several calls already and has no record of him showing up there.

The Plan:
Follow the path in the map or any possible side tracks that a MC rider on a Wing might take as part of a normal ride.

Search every possible 'get off' curve or questionable stretch of the route, please be safe. Please try to stay in groups of 3 to 5 bikes, take your time and try be safe yourself as we don't want to have any issues due to the search. If you are in a group, give each other some distance in case one of you sees something and needs to pull over unexpectedly.

Bring binoculars.. if you pull off somewhere to look, use them to scan and cover more of the area and places not easily seen from the road.

If you have any important information, please contact:
Ravelli County (MT) Sheriff’s Department at (406) 363-3033
Lynne Masters at (509) 526-4477 (Sister)
David Grossman: (509) 240-0178 (Brother in Law)

Donald is riding a black 2008 Goldwing, Colorado Plate #327-UTH

Here is a picture of Donald on a Siver goldwing, again he would be riding a BLACK wing not a silver one:


Post by Fred D:
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71984

Smithee on the pashnit forum is his brother-in-law so he started a thread over there as well:
http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24013

Map by Fred D:


FAQ:
CCs & Bank info - has been checked out thoroughly - last usage was in Lolo, MT on 8/31 for gas. Last sighting, via traffic cam, was in Darby, MT at ~4:30 MST on 8/31

cell phone ping - yes, it's been tried, no luck

cell phone records - yes, they've been checked but there is very limited and often no service in the area. Last known call out was ~4:30 MST - possibly coincides with the Darby traffic cam sighting.

GPS ping - GPS are receivers, not transmitters, no luck

Air search - Montana Pilots Association and local charter companies have been notified to be on the look out but, so far, no volunteers to search

Civil Air Patrol - yes, they know but can't do anything until an official Law Enforcement request

Search and Rescue - yes, they know but also can't do anything until an official Law Enforcement request

Why no LE request of SAR & CAP - unknown at this time

Medical conditions or depression - none known by family

Hunters and hikers - information is being forwarded to folks in the area

Campgrounds and hotels - all in area have been contacted, no luck

Bike condition - 2008 Goldwing (1HFSC47F18A712126 Model #GL18P8), no known mechanical issues but known to be fully loaded (and a riding buddy reported it as over-loaded). Yellow and black dry bags on the passenger seat. Camping gear, etc.

[Mellow]

Originally Posted by FireSporT

I need to see if I can break away. Who else ids going and when & where are you leaving from. Prior to leaving can someone check with the brother in law on the other forum as to the status.

Current status from Smithee:

Quote:

Thank you to all for the suggestions and for helping with cross-posting this. We have a rider who is in W. Yellowstone now specifically riding the roads we think Donald was on. My wife and I are headed over tomorrow to look at the roads from the West. It's amazing the seming lack on interest on the part of law enforcement to these types of situations. It's like pulling teeth to get them to move. Clearwater County was helpful initially, but as soon as we learned he bought gas in Lolo, MT, they punted it to the Missoula County Sheriff. Again, thank you to all here who have suggested things to do, expressed concern or have cross posted this. Smithee

So, let's keep the plans going, the more we can get involved the better.

[Raven]

He last got gas in Lolo, MT on Monday, August 31. That's the last anyone has heard anything and, according to his family, he's good about checking in. Also according to the family (from various postings at other sites) the local LEOs have NOT been very active in searching but have instead been punting the case around the various agencies.

So, last known route was from Lolo, MT to West Yellowstone. Last CC purchase was for gas in Lolo.

(EDIT: oops sorry, I'm a slow typer)

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Red Brown

1. What was his emotional demeanor and physical profile recently? Suicidal thoughts..divorce, bi-polar disorder, etc....it could have been easy since he would be hard to find. If he also had a history of health problems, diabetes, cardiac issues, he would have had an episode of sorts.

From the various forums his family has posted on, he's 62, no reports of ill health and this is completely out of character for him.

Originally Posted by Red Brown

2. The mechanical history of HIS bike and last service etc...was he riding on the last legs of his tire?

2008 Goldwing - so no mechanical issues there

Originally Posted by Red Brown

3. What was the weather during his route? Was their an "approx" time or range he might have had an accident? Was he in a twisty section during rain...overshot the curve and went down the ravine? This happened recently in Texas and the woman was found four days later still strapped to the seat belt and alive. It was because a police office noticed a large section of trees ripped off the roadside!

Somewhere within 300 miles of Lolo, MT en route to West Yellowstone (and eventually Denver).

Originally Posted by Red Brown

4. Perhaps a deer strike at high-speed caused a tumble off the road with enough speed to be clearly out of sight from the road. This happened on several occasions on the recent Iron Butt ride.

Probably a really good possibility

Originally Posted by Red Brown

5. Drunk driver hit him and left him to die and pushed the bike off the edge of the road/cliff. Perhaps body-shops or car repair stores have reported black markings on the side of a car.

Let's hope no one is that cold-blooded.


+1 on getting a SPOT being a really good idea.

[Raven]

Originally posted by Smithee (Don's brother-in-law) over on pashnit

Quote:

Update as of 9/11. There is little new news at this point. The Walla Walla Police Department is trying to access bank information to see if Donald used a debit card to buy gas. We think it was unlikely he did, as his family said he usually used the United Mileage Plus credit card. Clearwater County Sheriff Detective Rick Miller has confirmed what he told us before, that there was a gas buy in Orofino, ID on 8/30, a buy in Lolo, MT on 8/31. There was also a charge at Fay Myers Motorsports near Denver, but I have confirmed with them that this was an automated charge, likely for a part that was ordered or a payment on a service contract. A couple people have called Clearwater County Sheriff and gotten either no information or one person was told that there was a charge on the credit card on 9/8. This is incorrect. We have information the card was canceled by Chase on 9/5. The lead contact(s) on this now are Missoula County Sheriff, at 406-458-4810, or the Ravelli County Sheriff, at 406-363-3033. The Missoula Detective working the case is Rick Neulon. I spoke with him about an hour ago. He gets off work today at 5:00 pm and will not be working the rest of the weekend. Any calls should go to the Main number for the Sheriff. The Ravelli County Detective who has been briefed is Det. Jay Hudson. He is a rider and knows these roads well. My cell number is 509-240-0178, however I do not expect to have good service in Montana. I bought a prepaid Verizon phone but have not activated it yet. At this point, email or this forum is probably the best way to get in touch, although I am not sure what my internet access will be. Email is: alansmithee@gmail.com Thanks to Joe North from the ST Owner's forum, who has cross posted word of this, and to the others who have contacted me, and to anyone else who is helping spread the word. Thanks all for your concern. We are not optimistic of a good outcome at this point, but want to know what happened. David Grossman, a/k/a Smithee, a/k/a Alan Smithee

[Smithee]

Update on Donald.

I'm David Grossman, Donald's brother-in-law. Thank you to all who have posted and are keeping an eye out for Donald.

I see my post from Pashnit this morning was brought over here. There is really nothing more to report, other than to say that any questions or information should be coordinated through either the Missoula County or Ravelli County Sheriffs. The numbers are:

406-258-4810 (Missoula Sheriff); or

406-363-3033 (Ravelli Sheriff).

The contact in Missoula Detective is Rick Neulon and the Ravelli Sheriff is Jay Hudson.

I also heard today from a friend who has word out to a Goldwing rider's group. They are getting on the road today as well.

I am leaving shortly for Lolo with my wife and a friend. My cell number is 509-240-0178. I doubt it will work well in Montana. I bought a prepaid Verizon phone, which I understand should have decent coverage in Montana. The number is 509-386-4729.

[Bjmstar82]

Originally Posted by George

Also, those of you directly involved, good on you for taking up the effort. Makes me proud to know youse guys.

Completely agree.

[Mellow]

Originally Posted by adamk

9:15 PM PST and Mike's still on the road....

I spoke to him and he ended up hanging out in West Yellowstone talking to the LEOs there...

He did not ride the route posted above, he wanted to help get the word out and ensure the local authorities had enough info. then he was going to head home.

He told me he might be riding in an hour or 2 of dark to get home but it was highway so he wasn't to worried about that.

Not sure if he'll post when he gets home or not, hopefully he will.

[adamk]

Originally Posted by Mellow

He told me he might be riding in an hour or 2 of dark to get home but it was highway so he wasn't to worried about that. Not sure if he'll post when he gets home or not, hopefully he will.

He's still got an hour or more to go. Ride safe Mike!

[Mellow]

Originally Posted by adamk

He's still got an hour or more to go. Ride safe Mike!

I think it was just after 5pm CST when he was getting ready to head back home from West Yellowstone.