Graham Case, a resident of Medford, Oregon, who had been missing since June 22, 2023, was found deceased by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Search and Rescue (SAR) team on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. His remains were discovered in a crashed vehicle in steep, forested terrain along Highway 140, just outside of Eagle Point.
The discovery was made when SAR personnel were responding to an unrelated call in the area. Utilizing a drone, they expanded their search and eventually located a white Mercedes SUV that had crashed in the densely forested area. Upon investigation, JCSO detectives confirmed the vehicle belonged to Case. A Central Point Police Department Medical Examiner, with the assistance of JCSO and SAR Tactical Rope Rescue Team personnel, collected the remains from the scene.
The identification of the remains was confirmed on Thursday, bringing a tragic end to a search that had been ongoing for over a year. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office expressed their condolences to Graham Case’s family and friends and extended their gratitude to the SAR volunteers, Medford residents, and everyone who contributed to the search efforts over the past year.
Many community members took to Facebook to express their condolences and thoughts about the case. Lucy Dawn Cheney shared, "Great work SAR. Heartfelt condolences to the family." Red Boughner added, "So tragic. Condolences to the family." Another commenter, Betsy Duran, commended the JCSO SAR team, saying, "Great work JCSO SAR for the diligence and endurance in working this case for over a year, your talents in SAR and your compassion for bringing closure to families of the lost is exemplary."
The Josephine County Missing Person Project also posted a message of sympathy, stating, "Prayers and peace to the family of Graham Case, this was not the resolution that anybody wanted, but now his loved ones have answers and can lay him to rest properly."
As the community grieves, the discovery of Graham Case’s remains highlights the dedication of the SAR teams and the hope that persists in the search for missing persons, even in the most challenging circumstances.