Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 27, 2019, at about 10:40 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted by State Parks rangers regarding an abandoned vehicle belonging to a possible missing person located in the Dolason Prairie area of the Redwood National and State Parks.

Sheriff’s deputies, National and State Parks rangers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens, a California Highway Patrol helicopter and members of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Posse were deployed to search the area for the missing person. At approximately 1:30 p.m., searchers located human remains in brush within the search area.

The remains have been identified as belonging to the missing person, 49-year-old Jeff Pierce of Oswego, Illinois.

Foul play is not suspected at this time.

This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.