Searchers locate remains thought to be missing man

Published 8:08 am Tuesday, April 16, 2024

ILWACO — Searchers located human remains in forest land in Ilwaco near the Eagles Nest RV Resort 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 (PCSO) received a big break in the case earlier this month when a wallet belonging to Veith was found in the area where he had last been seen. The agency organized a search scheduled for Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14.

PCSO Commander Michael Parker called the search a “Hail Mary, all in” mission to hopefully bring the case to an end and get the Veith family closure.

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, who is presumed to be Veith, perished.

The remains are being sent to a King County forensic scientist for confirmation of an identity and will be compared to DNA from one of Veith’s parents. The process could take several weeks to complete.

According to investigators, the remains were discovered by cadaver team dogs down a very steep ravine. The discovery was near the area Veith’s vehicle was located in June 2021 following his disappearance.

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

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

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

Last Saturday’s search also involved the Clatsop County Search and Rescue Team, cadaver dog teams from Montana and Idaho, Pacific County Emergency Management, Pacific County Fire District No. 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.

Veith’s family has had mixed reactions to the news and recovery of human remains. His parents worked closely with law enforcement when his wallet was found — and have appreciated the search.

“It’s a conflicting feeling because [we are] thankful that they finally did something, but beyond angry that they didn’t follow a standard protocol from the very beginning,” Kimberly James, Veith’s cousin, stated.

“Who knows what could have happened if they actually searched the area from the beginning? But pending the cause of death, it could have potentially saved his life if they would have done their goddamn job,” she added.

Veith went missing in the third year of Robin Souvenir’s term as sheriff. The case was initially investigated by Deputy Dustin Eaton and current Chief Criminal Deputy Randy Wiegardt, who was a sergeant at the time.