Missing Winston Man Found Deceased Near South Umpqua River

Gary Sweetin, a 61-year-old resident of Wildlife Safari RV Park, was found deceased on Saturday after being missing since November, according to Cow Creek Tribal Police Department Chief Marty Case.
Sweetin was last contacted by a family member on November 10th, when he reportedly sounded intoxicated. Concerned after he did not reach out on a family member's birthday - which was unusual for him - relatives investigated and confirmed he was not at his residence.
Multiple search efforts were conducted to locate Sweetin:
- A Cow Creek Tribal Police Department officer initially searched the area and found no criminal concerns
- On December 8th, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol and Search and Rescue teams with cadaver dogs searched the riverbanks
- On December 19th, Winston Police Department used a drone to search the river and immediate vicinity
- A final search on Saturday by Douglas County Search and Rescue located Sweetin's remains near the riverbank, hidden in dense vegetation
Chief Case reported that while the exact cause of death is undetermined, there are no indications of criminal activity. The death could be attributable to an accident or natural causes.
The Cow Creek Tribal Police Department expressed gratitude to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Winston Police Department, Wildlife Safari staff, and Sweetin's family for their assistance in the search efforts.
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