‘Survivalist’ Dad Left Home to Go Photograph the Tides at Oregon Beach. His Car Was Found, But He’s Vanished

The search is on for a father who disappeared after going to an Oregon beach to take photos of high tides.

The Coos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said they received a call from the Bend Police Department for help finding Joseph Neill, who “was reported to have left his home to go photograph the King Tides” at a local beach, but never returned home.

Neill had gone Horsefall Beach to take “photographs of the king tide” on Sunday, Dec. 15, but did not return, according to a statement shared on Facebook by the missing man’s children.

“Papa is a survivalist and could fashion anything to help him get through a tough situation if needed,” his children said.

Early in the morning of Monday, Dec, 16, his car was found “on Transpacific Parkway near a landmark known as Jordan Point,” according to the CCSO.

Authorities said that after locating the vehicle, the North Bend Police requested a K9 team “to track the area for Mr. Neill’s whereabouts,” but that they ultimately determined that Mr. Neill was “no longer in that area.” 

The search was conducted on private property, “and there are hazards to life and limb in that area,” according to the CCSO, which advised that “members of the public should not be on that property without landowner permission.”

The Coat Guard briefly searched for Neill as well, but suspended those efforts “as there was evidence to suggest that Mr. Neill was elsewhere,” per the sheriff’s office.

Neill’s children said their father “likely would have either walked to a few low points inland for reflections of the full moon with the king tide or perhaps along the shoreline” near Horsefall Beach.

“My dad means the world to us,” the children said, “please share as quickly as possible, let’s find Joe!”

Anyone with information about Neill’s whereabouts is asked to contact the North Bend Police Department at 541-756-3161.