Ralph Brown Search Continues With Focus On Newberg

The Herald is updating our story on missing Cornelius, Oregon man Ralph Davis Brown.  It has been one week since Ralph called his daughter Lori to tell her he was lost and in some bushes and needed help.  At that time some cell phone pings put him in between McMinnville and Newberg.  Then the trail went cold as friends and families spread out all over NW Oregon looking for the beloved retired teacher and school administrator.

NEW INFORMATION SHARED THIS WEEKEND:

I am in direct contact with Daryle and Gretchen Brown (Son and Daughter-Inlaw) and Sue Fleskes of Forest Grove.  The kids are doing all they can and sharing what they are hearing from law enforcement.  Sue is handling hundreds of calls and texts from people wanting to know what they should do.  I am in direct contact with both.  So I will keep our information accurate-

Here is what has transpired and new info as of this weekend

• A woman in Newberg reported seeing an elderly man in Newberg at two separate parks.

• One sighting was Tuesday or Wednesday and another on Friday at about 6 PM.

• The siting early in the week was at Memorial Park.

• The Friday evening sighting was at Herbert Hoover Park.

• The woman indicated the man seemed confused and was not acting as if he knew what was happening. Shuffing his feet and disoriented.

• He was in dark shorts, a light shirt, and appeared to be 5’10” and of medium build.

• He was not wearing shoes and had navy blue socks on.

• The woman indicated she had personal experience in dealing with people with dementia and she did not approach him as she did not want to scare him.

• The woman reported this to the Washington County Sheriff after she saw the flyers and information.

  All of her testimony is very indicative of Ralph Brown.

Here is a map of where these parks are:

The Memorial and Herbert Hoover Parks are pretty open although Herbert Hoover has an area that runs East and South that is very rugged.

We personally went to Newberg today where drones were used and searched for 6 hours.  It was great to see people walking the areas near the parks with flyers and to see people asking the locals if they had seen Ralph.  Sue Fleskes had people doing 3-hour shifts at all the parks nearby that could be covered.   The locals in Newberg, for the most part, had no idea when we first arrived but within a few hours, it seemed many were talking about him

Herbert Hoover Park is at the top center and the Hess Creek basin spills Se below the GAR Cemetary. Some thick brush and hard to search areas there could easily hide a frightened and confused person, which Ralph likely is.

Memorial Park is a small wide-open city park and very close to the Police and Fire Station – if Ralph shows up there he will likely be found.

We went to Rogers Landing County Park which is on the Willamette River because it seemed possible he could be lost there.  This park and natural area is very big and would require a big search team.  We were unable to locate Ralph or his vehicle after an extensive search, but the drones can see a tremendous amount.

Ralph may be at a homeless camp but there are no facts to support he is –

At some point this weekend someone posted that Ralph was in a homeless camp of was rumored to have been.  There are no facts to support that.   It is highly possible that someone homeless may have invited him to a camp.  And there are camps in Newberg which some of the searches were looking for.  Searches were advised by law enforcement not to try and enter camps if they found them because they were not on private land and that they are not safe.   No one we spoke to found a camp despite rumors of camps.  We looked and have found none.  If you live in Newberg and have information about camps where Ralph may be found please contact us at 503-799-8383.

Just to the SW of Memorial Park and to the NW of Roger Landing is Ewing Young Park.  It has a Disc Golf Course.  In our initial story, we reported that Ralph had indicated to his daughter in the one phone call that he made that he might be by a golf course.  When we stood at the Ewing Young Park disc golf course and considered that it is a short walk to both Memorial and Herbert Hoover Park, we had to wonder if he could be there.

These shots were taken around Ewing Young – the Yamhill River runs through part of it.  Boy, Newberg has some wild-wild in town areas.  Victoria Garcia, like me, is one of the dozens of volunteers trying to help to find Mr. Brown.  She was handing out flyers and talking to everyone that came to the dog park and skate park today.

Ralph Brown may be in Newberg in one of the camps or brushy areas.  He may be in a homeless camp.

Possible Scenarios:  (There is a consensus that Ralph’s phone has no power and has been off for days.)

• Ralph found his car and drove off somewhere – confused, with no phone.  Not as likely as once thought.
• Ralph has lost his car and or his keys and is on foot.  This seems likely.
• Ralph’s credit card may be used soon – he had some cash but is known to use his cards.
• Ralph’s cards have been stolen and will be used soon which will help find him.
• The sighting of Ralph may have been in error but the witness described him to a tee and indicated that she was fairly sure that the man she saw was him.
• The photos of Ralph that have been circulating are mostly with his glasses on.  It is very likely that Ralph has lost his glasses.

Here is a photo of Ralph a couple of years back.  The former Mayor of Cornelius, teacher, and administrator is so well-loved- someone needs to recognize him.

Lastly-  you can now all keep up with the latest and give your tips and feedback by joining the Facebook Page that has been set up to provide information.  Sue Fleskes is coordinating where to direct searches and volunteers and this page will help to activate even more people.

Facebook Group – Find Ralph Brown Of Oregon

Dozens and dozens of people are out looking for him.  This is a man who has really impressed people and his life is on the line.  We will continue to bring you his story.  So many teachers and students and friends he has made are helping on this one.  That speaks volumes about the type of man he is.

Let’s find Ralph Brown.