85-year-old Cheboygan County missing man found safe in woods

On September 28, 2026, the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint regarding an 85-year-old male who had been reported missing. The subject was known to have dementia and short-term memory issues.

Through contact with the family and the investigation, deputies determined that the subject had left the area in his vehicle. He was last known to have been seen leaving the Onaway area at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Family members advised that the subject enjoyed traveling on two-tracks and visiting parks whenever possible. His cell phone, wallet, and identification had been left at his residence.

The initial focus of the investigation was to locate the subject’s vehicle, as locating the vehicle would provide search personnel with a starting point and potentially narrow the search area.

Search efforts continued throughout the night of September 28 with no immediate indication of the subject or his vehicle being located. On September 29, the search continued with assistance from the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers. Additional resources were utilized, including trucks, side-by-sides, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes, allowing search personnel to access difficult-to-reach two-tracks and remote areas.

During the afternoon of September 29, first responders contacted citizens who were riding dirt bikes in the area. The riders reported that they had observed a vehicle matching the description earlier, but no person was around the vehicle at the time.

Search personnel backtracked the information provided by the dirt bike riders and were able to locate the vehicle. Once the vehicle was located, Search and Rescue personnel were deployed to the area to conduct a thorough search of the surrounding terrain.

During the search, personnel located fresh footprints in the sand near the vehicle. Searchers followed the footprints through the area and successfully located the missing subject.

The subject was located and evaluated by Cheboygan County Life Support. Following his evaluation, he was turned over to family. The coordinated efforts of the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, Search and Rescue personnel, and members of the public were instrumental in locating the subject.