Kelly Lee Phillips, a 69-year-old man from Grangeville, Idaho, was last seen August 24, 2021, after telling acquaintances he planned to camp along the South Fork of the Clearwater River. His last known contact was a message on August 23, 2021. A friend reported him missing to the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office on September 7, 2021.

Investigators located his white 1991 Toyota pickup off State Highway 14 near Fall Creek at milepost 35.2. Witnesses saw the truck parked there with its hood up on August 23 and 24. A note about mechanical trouble and the keys were inside, but the truck did not contain the camping or mining gear he usually carried. Extensive searches by the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office and Grangeville Mountain Rescue found no sign of him.

Friends described Phillips as in very poor health and say he made remarks about preparing for the end of his life, wrote a letter to family saying he was at the end of his days, began giving away possessions, and sent gold pieces to his grandson. Those actions led investigators to consider that he may have intentionally walked into the wilderness, but no trace of him has been found.

If anyone saw Kelly or his truck in late August 2021, or has information about his planned route or activities along the South Fork of the Clearwater River, please come forward.