Cottage Grove man missing, rising water levels hinder search efforts

Lane County search and rescue teams on Monday were still searching for a Cottage Grove man who went missing Friday from his campsite near the bank of Brice Creek just east of the Cedar Creek Camp Ground on Brice Creek Road.

Robert Ray Bennet II, 63, of Cottage Grove is described as a white man who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. He has white hair, brown eyes and stubbly facial hair, as well as a hunched posture and issues walking, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. He was last seen wearing a maroon coat, black shirt, suspenders, tan wranglers and cowboy boots.

As of Monday, the sheriff’s office said Bennet had not yet been found despite rumors circulating online that he was found dead over the weekend.

High water levels at Brice Creek and Row River have made search and rescue operations complicated for volunteers.

“Rumors of his recovery likely stem from a possible sighting of him in Brice Creek on Saturday,” Tim Wallace, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said. “He was not recovered, however, and Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is continuing to search the area.”

Anyone with information about Bennet’s whereabouts was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (541)-682-4141.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@registerguard.com

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Cottage Grove man missing, rising water levels hinder search