Missing 83-year-old found safe by family after days-long search

SULTAN, Wash. - The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said an 83-year-old man who was reported missing on Tuesday has been found safe.

The Sheriff's Office posted on X Thursday that Tony Beedle, who was last seen near Sultan while going on a "day trip" near Stevens Pass, got his vehicle stuck while traveling.

Deputies say Beedle walked down from where his vehicle got stuck and his family members who were searching the area found him.

The Sheriff's Office thanked the public for their assistance in finding Tony.

Snohomish County Search and Rescue teams were out all day on Wednesday, searching the area where his phone last pinged, which was about a mile from Stevens Pass. It was a treacherous search amid cold temperatures, freezing rain and snow. 

The snow was so deep in some spots at the pass, search and rescue units got briefly stuck in the search for Beedle on Wednesday.

"He left yesterday morning, he’s familiar with this area and often goes on day trips traveling," Courtney O'Keefe with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. "For him not to return is unusual." 

O'Keefe said when he didn't return home Tuesday night, his wife became concerned and called for help. She says search and rescue (SAR) got the call-out at around 1 a.m. 

O'Keefe also said Beedle worked for the forest service, so he knew the area well.

"Certainly, I know that the snow is deep out there, I know that a few of our SAR rigs that are equipped for tough terrain, did get stuck today, so certainly the conditions are rough, and any vehicle could get stuck right now," O'Keefe said. 

Impacts from the latest round of winter weather also included the closure of westbound Highway 2 at milepost 64 at the summit Wednesday afternoon.