Aeronautics Engineer Missing in Northwestern California

 

Duane Masher

Duane Masher [According to family, he weighs about 20 pounds less now than he did in this photo.]

Jared Masher’s father, Duane, is missing. Duane, an aeronautical engineer, lived in Orange County but, as reported here earlier, his car was located at the Redwoods River Resort across from Confusion Hill north of Leggett. Jared last spoke to his father on the 10th by phone and they argued. A neighbor told Jared that he saw Duane on the 11th.

“[On the 14th], I got an email from my grandmother that said she hadn’t spoken to him since the 10th,” Jared explained.  A little worried, Jared who lives several hours away called a friend who lived not far from his father. She offered to go check on Duane.

When she got there, his apartment was open. The friend took photos of the Triplex’s interior and sent the images to Jared. That’s when he became even more concerned. “If he were to move, there were items in there I would have expected him to take— his trophies, his diplomas, his surfboard, his skis,” said Jared.

Then Jared learned that his father’s car had been found about nine hour’s north near Leggett. “When I showed up [at the Triplex] a few hours later, there was a notification from the CHP to get in touch with them about his vehicle,” explained Jared.

Then Jared walked into his father’s home. “I noticed what looked like his cell phone was smashed,” Jared explained. Later, he discovered that inside the oven were the remains of his father’s computer hard drives. They’d been cooked so they were unusable.

Jared made arrangements for his dad’s 2004 Cadillac to be brought to him by a relative. Inside the car, his dad had left items that Jared believes he wouldn’t have left willingly including the dog tags of a special pet. “These were some of the most important things in his life, Cody’s dog tags, the ashes of his sister, my aunt were still in the vehicle…The keys to the vehicle were also found…” Duane had also left clothing and his social security card but his wallet was gone.

Duane has left for weeks at a time before but not without telling a family member, Jared said. “He will let people know that he’s going to be ducking out for a little bit…Like when he was in the mountains skiing…There is always warning. Then he pops back up a few weeks later.”

Jared describes his father as “very intelligent” and “gentle.” He said, “I’ve never seen him get into a physical altercation.”

Jared has a theory about his father’s disappearance, “It looks like he was fleeing his residence,” Jared explained. “He left the things he had to leave and packed the most important.” He can’t explain why his father’s Cadillac was found near Leggett.

Duane is approximately 5’11” and weighs 175 to 185 lbs. He has dirty blonde hair with gray streaks and green eyes. He is 56 years old.

If you have any information, please contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at (714) 647-7040.

Earlier Chapter: Missing Orange County Man’s Vehicle Found Near Leggett

 

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28 Comments
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Ghost
Guest
Ghost
6 years ago

Sounds like he went strait Jason Bourne.

J
Guest
J
6 years ago

Holy cow, that’s as weird as it gets. I hope he is OK.

Melissa M
Guest
Melissa M
6 years ago

It unfortunately is looking like a self harm situation.

UnCommonSense
Guest
UnCommonSense
6 years ago

Looks to me like whoever he was running from caught up to him.
Sounds like a new Netflix series…

Brian
Guest
Brian
6 years ago

So, any context to the arguement?

Could easily explain the smashed phone and most important items in the car.

Hope he is just on a long spirit hike in the woods.

Brian
Guest
Brian
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

An answer that brings more questions.

Hope the police or private detective can help.

MOGTX
Guest
6 years ago

sketchy at best hope he shows up safe.

Poppins
Guest
Poppins
6 years ago

I hope the son has filed the Missing Person’s Report as well as gotten legal advice as to how to close up his father’s apartment and store the possessions to protect them from theft. The local police where his father lived should do a check of the apartment before he moves or cleans anything up. If the son has the funds a competent PI can also document the evidence. Identity theft protection should occur for his father as well as freezing of bank accounts.

May his father be found safe and of a sound mind.

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
6 years ago
Reply to  Poppins

Also to protect them from the coroner’s office employees.

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
6 years ago
Reply to  Seamus

Too late. The Caddy has already been purchased by a Deputy Coroner for $200.

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago

It sounds to me like he was kidnapped, his important research evidence destroyed, and his car dumped in a remote area that has a reputation for “self” harm.

Local .
Guest
Local .
6 years ago
Reply to  shak

I agree

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  shak

I agree also.

Thumper
Guest
Thumper
6 years ago

Is his hair longer and kind of curly than the pic here?

Wow
Guest
Wow
6 years ago

Sounds like an x-files episode, does the son know what he was working on? Maybe good to contact his fellow workers.
Maybe he disappeared himself, he wouldnt be the first to run to the hills to hide.
Regardless, i hope his family finds him, its so hard to have no idea whats happening with a loved one.
Would recommend hiring a private investigator.
Let our community know if we can help besides keeping eyes out for him.

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

Growing up i remember my Grandparents saying” if you want to disappear this is the place” sad but true. I hope they find him soon

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
6 years ago

I have been reluctant to post, but from the first time I heard of this, I assumed it was a suicide. Mr. Masher is in the highest risk group being a middle aged white male. I could see someone driving up and walking into the redwoods to find a peaceful place. I believe it is a cultural thing, where the role of the male to provide and support is not as prevalent as it once was and the fact that by middle age, the role is also diminished as children move on to their own lives. After hearing about the hard drives, it seems very likely.

Uhoh
Guest
Uhoh
6 years ago

Redwoods Resort is next to the very tall bridge over the Eel River by Confusion Hill. Have they searched under the bridge?

Jack Straw
Guest
Jack Straw
6 years ago
Reply to  Uhoh

Second thing I thought when they opened the new road with that very high bridge. I can see it becoming a popular suicide destination. Hope they find him okay.

Liz
Guest
Liz
6 years ago
Reply to  Jack Straw

Only one suicide and it was a few years back.

K.
Guest
K.
6 years ago

It may be impossible for him to explain to his son what he is doing or going through, if he doesn’t understand. Whatever drove him may be too much to deal with. I understand leaving it all. Every single bit of it. And you can both loose and find yourself here.

Liz
Guest
Liz
6 years ago

I wonder if he and his sister had family memories of going to the Redwood River Resort. It was named Cabana back in their childhood. Maybe he was looking for a place to scatter her ashes?

Recover the HD data
Guest
6 years ago

Recover the data
Jared Masher has probably done it already, but I recommend seeing about getting the data off of those hard drives. And if he hasn’t done that, then this site is a company that specializes in recovering data from catastrophically damaged hard drives:

https://www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com

N
Guest
N
6 years ago

If she were omnipotent like some think, wouldn’t she be our President rn? Plus, f’d up comment to make here. I just hope this man is found safe.

MOGTX
Guest
6 years ago

we’re is Jim Rockford when you need him .

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  MOGTX

Better still, where’s some of the Numerous CSI Teams from the Idiot Box???!!! They could find him & still be back at the station for lunch!!! Seriously though I hope he is found soon as well as alive & well!!!

God is Love
Guest
God is Love
6 years ago

I have ashes of loved ones. I take them only when I move! I don’t think a suicidal person cooks their laptop. Someone in fear for their life takes a loved ones ashes and cooks their computer. Hello?!?