Search continues for two missing in Idaho County

GRANGEVILLE — Ground and helicopter crews searched two remote locations Monday in Idaho County, looking for two people missing in apparently unrelated disappearances.

A third man who was reported missing Sunday was found unharmed; he had simply failed to contact his family, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Connie Johnson, 76, of Nezperce, was last seen last Tuesday by members of a Richey Outfitters hunting camp where she was a cook. The hunters temporarily left the camp, located up the Selway River in the Fog Mountain area near Big Rock, while Johnson and her border collie, Ace, remained behind. When the hunters returned, the sheriff’s office reported, Johnson and Ace were gone.

The camp is accessible only by horseback or on foot, said Lt. Doug Ulmer of the sheriff’s office. No vehicles were nearby.

Ground searches have not found any tracks, and the hunt was joined by the sheriff’s office, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Air Force and Back Country Rescue Helicopter.

In the second disappearance, ground crews continued to look for Terrence Woods, 27, of Maryland, who was working for a movie crew near the Penman Mine at Orogrande, about 40 miles southeast of Grangeville.

Ulmer said Woods was talking to members of the crew at about 5:30 p.m. Friday when he took off into the woods, and he has not been seen since.

Ulmer said there does not appear to be any connection to the two disappearances, which were miles apart.

“We do not have any belief at all these are connected in any way,” he said.

The third person reported missing over the weekend — Jose Mendez-Morales, 42, of Tacoma — left his residence Sunday headed to Elk City. He had not checked in with his family since Sept. 25, but made contact by Monday, the sheriff’s office reported.

Anyone with information about Johnson or Woods is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (208) 983-1100.

Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.