A missing person’s report was received by the North Bend Police Department Sunday evening, December 15th, regarding 72 year old North Bend resident Joseph Neill, who had gone to take pictures of the King Tides occurring that Sunday morning and had not returned.
North Bend Police Officers began searching for Mr. Neill traveling as far south as Shore Acres before Mr. Neill’s phone could be traced to a parking area not far from the railroad bridge that traverses Coos Bay.
After locating Mr. Neill’s vehicle, a single set of foot prints heading towards the railroad bridge and personal property items believed to be Mr. Neill’s were located on the railroad bridge, including a cell phone, his wife, Maria Neill’s business card, a camera, camera case and a hat.
On Monday morning, December 16th, the North Bend Fire Department was joined the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Coos County Sheriff’s Deputies and K9 units in searching the bay area around the bridge from the water, however, all search efforts were unsuccessful, and concluded by late afternoon Monday.
On Tuesday morning, December 17th, properties and shorelines surrounding the railroad bridge area that was searched Monday by boat was searched unsuccessfully by drone using high-powered cameras which included thermal imagery.
It was revealed after analysis of Mr. Neill’s phone, that he was on the bridge at that location until just after 10:00am Sunday morning taking pictures, however, no further information, or evidence has been located.
The North Bend Police investigation has concluded until new evidence, more information or a siting regarding Mr. Neill is located. It is believed by the North Bend Police that “Mr. Neill likely entered the water from the bridge”, however, it is not known whether the fall was the result of a fall or from jumping off the bridge.
Anyone with information regarding Joseph Neill is encouraged to contact the North Bend Police Department.
