JOYCE — The father and toddler daughter who have been the subject of a massive search in the forest west of Joyce were found apparently uninjured but hungry about 10:30 this morning.
Both were found after walking out of the forested area to state Highway 112 and asking a passer-by for help, Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin told the Peninsula Daily News.
They were given cinnamon rolls and water, and declined any medical aid.
The pair were then planning on returning to the campground near the mouth of the Lyre River where they have been living, the undersheriff said.
“So far all we know is that they were able to walk out and ask someone for help,” he said.
Earlier report:
By Rob Ollikainen
Peninsula Daily News
JOYCE — The sun went down Saturday with no leads as to the whereabouts of a 21-year-old man and his 22-month-old daughter who were last seen at the Lyre River campground Friday.
Searchers combed the woods west of Port Angeles Friday night and Saturday looking for signs of Jared T. Egnew, 21, and his toddler, Madison E. Egnew, who were reported missing at 8:17 p.m. Friday, said Ron Peregrin, Clallam County Undersheriff.
“We’re going to search until it gets dark and then start at first light tomorrow,” Peregrin said at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.
A Coast Guard helicopter spotted Egnew’s car, a blue 1999 Ford Taurus, at 10:10 a.m. Saturday.
Deputies said the car was high-centered on East Twin River Road but not wrecked about six miles from the campground and about three miles south of state Highway 112.
“There was no one in it,” Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said.
Spare tires were on the car’s rear wheels.
It was locked.
“It appeared that there were tracks going off towards some power lines, and apparently whoever was in the car was going down the road.”
A team of about 20 searchers combed the woods Saturday.
Sniffing dogs from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office were en route, Benedict said Saturday afternoon. The bloodhounds were searching the site at 7:30 p.m., a 9-1-1 dispatcher said.
The search team includes Border Patrol agents, the Coast Guard and Lower Elwha Police.
“At this point, we believe that they’re still out there in the woods,” Benedict said at about 2 p.m. Saturday.
Benedict said he was concerned about the twosome because they had been missing for more than 24 hours.
“And it got pretty cool last night,” he said.
The National Weather Service called for a low of 52 degrees Saturday night.
Egnew reportedly drove away from the Lyre River campground with his daughter at about 11 a.m. Friday to take Madison, who was crying, for a drive to calm her down.
He had been staying at the campground with the child’s mother, Kayla A. McComb.
“There was no evidence that a fight had occurred,” Peregrin said.
“It did not appear that there was any kind of dispute. He just took off with the baby because the baby was fussing he was going to take her for a drive to calm her down.
“And he never came home.”
At about 3 p.m., McComb began calling Egnew’s friends from the nearby home of relatives, unsuccessfully seeking any news of him.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that they got out,” Benedict said. “We don’t have any reason to believe that there’s any foul play at this time.”
McComb’s mother, Julie Batchelor, reported Egnew and the child missing to the sheriff’s office.
“We suspect that since the car was disabled that Jared might have wandered through the woods thinking that he was going to take a shortcut down to Highway 112 and got lost,” Benedict said.
“That would be my operating theory at this point.”
Other than the footprints, there were no other signs of Jared Egnew or his daughter.
Egnew did not have a cell phone with him. McComb told deputies that Egnew was not carrying cash or credit cards.
“It’s possible that they hiked out to the road and got a ride somewhere,” Benedict said.
“If they did, and if Jared hears about this, we’d sure like for him to get in touch with us.
“But at this point, once again, our operating theory is that they are out in the woods west of Port Angeles.”
Port Angeles police checked known places in the city where Egnew might have gone, Benedict said.
Ron Cameron, Chief Criminal Deputy in the Sheriff’s Office, said the search would stop at nightfall and resume this morning.
“I’m worried for the little girl,” Cameron said.
Peregrin said the couple were living at the campground.
Egnew is described as a white male, about 6-feet-tall and 244 pounds. He has dark brown shaved or buzz-cut hair and a goatee.
He was wearing an AC/DC gray long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.
He reportedly has glaucoma, wears contacts, and is ADHD, the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.
The child has “dirty blond colored” shoulder-length hair frequently worn in a ponytail, and green or hazel eyes.
Her ears are pierced with colored stone stud earrings.
The child — who is 33 inches tall and weighs about 26 pounds — is wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, brown boots and red socks.
Anyone with information is asked to phone 9-1-1.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor/News Leah Leach contributed to this story.
