News, Tillamook State Forest

Body of man missing since February found near Coast Range summit

The body of Thomas Geiger, a man missing in the Tillamook State Forest since February, was found Saturday at the summit of the Coast Range near Highway 6.

According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement was called to investigate Saturday, October 29 after people recreating in the Tillamook State Forest came across human remains near Highway 6 and Storey Burn Road.

“Based on the location of the remains and evidence found at the scene, deputies believed that they were of Thomas Geiger,” the sheriff’s office said Wednesday. “The remains were confirmed to be Geiger by the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The sheriff’s office said that there were no indications of foul play, and that the cause of Geiger’s death remained under investigation. His family was notified of his death.

According to the sheriff’s office, Thomas Geiger, 46, was reported missing Saturday, February 26 and was last seen leaving his home near Forest Grove’s Main Street and 16th Avenue at 8 a.m. on the morning of Friday, February 25.

Geiger’s family members found his empty vehicle Friday at the summit of the coast range near Highway 6 and Storey Burn Road, a gravel logging and recreation road that pierces into a rugged part of the Tillamook State Forest.

The sheriff’s office had previously noted Geiger was believed to be armed and that they were concerned for his mental health.

+ posts

Chas Hundley is the editor of the Banks Post and sister news publications the Gales Creek Journal and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.

Sign up for Banks area news in your inbox ↓

The groceries your family needs!