Orondo, WA – A multi-day search for a missing Grant County man ended after authorities located remains in steep terrain near where his abandoned vehicle was found in Douglas County.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 1:47 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked near rental properties in the area of Stinar Road and Rivendell Road in Orondo. The reporting party told deputies the vehicle appeared abandoned and may have been stolen.
Investigators determined the vehicle belonged to John Morrison, who had been reported missing out of Grant County. Grant County detectives joined Douglas County deputies in searching the surrounding area with drones, but Morrison was not located that day. The vehicle was later released to his family.
On Wednesday, July 15, deputies continued searching with drones before coordinating with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office for an aerial search using a helicopter. During that flight, the crew spotted a person lying in steep terrain several hundred feet below the location where Morrison’s vehicle had been discovered.
Officials said the individual appeared to be deceased and was located in an extremely inaccessible area. Because of the terrain and the time of day, no hoist-capable aircraft from neighboring agencies was available to conduct a recovery.
On Thursday, July 16, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit responded and successfully recovered the remains. Authorities said the remains are believed to be those of John Morrison and have been transferred to the Douglas County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy and formal identification.
The circumstances surrounding Morrison’s death have not yet been released. The investigation remains ongoing.
