New clue leads searchers to remains, presumed to be man missing since 2021

Published 5:20 am Sunday, April 14, 2024

ILWACO — Searchers located human remains in forest land in Ilwaco near the Eagles Nest RV Park following a new lead in a missing person case. Eric Veith, disappeared on June 6, 2021, and was last seen on surveillance camera at the park.

His whereabouts remained a mystery for nearly three years.

The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office caught a break in the case when a wallet belonging to Veith was located last weekend in the area he went missing. The agency organized a search scheduled for April 13 and April 14.

According to PCSO Chief Civil Deputy Hollie Billeci, searchers found confirmed human remains on the afternoon of the first day of the search. Investigators are now working to determine how the individual perished, who is presumed to be Veith.

Veith’s disappearance perplexed investigators who originally worked the case, most of whom still work at the sheriff’s office. His vehicle was located at the Eagles Nest Resort, only a couple miles from his residence in Seaview — with no signs of foul play.

Veith had also left his dog at a neighbor’s house earlier that day and never returned. He called at some point and said he wasn’t going to return and that he had “hit his head.”

Leads quickly ran dry for investigators. A post on Reddit pointed to foul play alleging a kidnapping and murder and his cell phone was pinged in the Auburn area, which is roughly 150 miles away.

The search on April 13 also involved the Clatsop County Search and Rescue Team, cadaver dog teams from Montana and Idaho, Pacific County Emergency Management, Pacific County Fire District 1, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Ilwaco Fire Department, Pacific County Search and Rescue — and members of the public.

“PCSO would like to thank all of the community members, local businesses, and PCSO employees that helped make this search and rescue operation financially happen,” Billeci said.