RED ROCK NEWS Article from Wednesday, November 23, 2011. That was DAY 36

Schwartz Family Struggles While Search Continues For Father, Jim

Written by Christopher Fox Graham

Photo courtesy of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office/Susan Bolling Photography. The Rev. Jim Schwartz, the 66-year-old former pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, was last seen by his wife at their Village of Oak Creek home at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 19. If you have seen him, contact YCSO at (928) 771-3260 with any information. After a month, the Rev. Jim Schwartz is still missing. Schwartz, the 66-year-old former pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, was last seen by his wife at their Village of Oak Creek home at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 19. Schwartz’s son, Jeremiah, said a neighbor reportedly saw his father halfway between home and the Kel Fox Trailhead later that morning. Where Jim Schwartz went afterward, and his current whereabouts, are unknown. After an intense few weeks of searches around the Village, Jeremiah Schwartz said the family was forced to scale back the search. “We’re not organizing large search efforts on a day-to-day basis,” Schwartz said. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Forest Patrol Unit joined the search, with deputies deploying search dogs and Guardian Air conducting a helicopter flyover on Oct. 21. Schwartz said bloodhounds from Arizona Search Track & Rescue seemed to indicate a scent of Jim Schwartz on the Kel Fox Trail. The initial outpouring of community support immediately after the disappearance leads Jeremiah Schwartz to believe they have effectively combed almost everywhere in a 5-mile radius and many areas within a 10-mile radius. The family is torn, struggling with the possibility he may have suffered a diabetic episode — he is diabetic but not insulin-dependent. He takes maintenance medication but it is unknown if he had any with him. Yet, the family still holds on to hope he is alive somewhere else in the Verde Valley or has left the area, possibly by hitchhiking. Jeremiah Schwartz said when his father was a pastor in Minnesota, he led large youth groups on long, seven- to 10-day hikes through the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. Those hikes were some of his father’s fondest memories. In his retirement, Jim Schwartz expressed desire to go on long, overnight hikes. He purchased backpacks Oct. 15, but they are still at home, Jeremiah Schwartz said.  Jim Schwartz likely had a tarp and a book about Arizona native plants with him, Jeremiah Schwartz said. He likely otherwise left home with minimal gear. Find the Rev. Jim Schwartz The Rev. Jim Schwartz is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 190 pounds and has graying brown hair. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Schwartz may have been wearing a black T-shirt, light gray fleece pullover, khaki hiking pants with zip-off legs, navy blue waterproof jacket, brown Hi-Tec hiking boots, and a khaki brown hiking hat with LED lights. He was likely in possession of a black JanSport backpack probably containing some survival items including an orange tarp, compass, flashlight, an native plant book and possibly water purification tablets. In case Jim Schwartz did leave the area, Jeremiah Schwartz said the family is spreading the word via media outlets and law enforcement agencies hoping searchers can find someone who may have seen him. Schwartz said his father expressed an interest in working with Mexican immigrants in Arizona border cities or other border states. YCSO spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn stated in a press release a man matching Jim Schwartz’ description was seen in downtown Prescott on Oct. 22 and another sighting Oct. 27 reportedly placed him in Payson, but none of these leads could be verified. Jeremiah Schwartz said unconfirmed reports have led some to mistakenly believe his father was found, and they have taken down flyers. The family is struggling to continue awareness Jim Schwartz is still missing. The family maintains the blog Find Jim Schwartz and a Facebook page. Family members are also hiking around the Village and staying alert to signs of where Schwartz might be or have been. Schwartz is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 190 pounds and has graying brown hair. According to YCSO, Schwartz may have been wearing a black T-shirt, light gray fleece pullover — not a jacket as previously reported— khaki hiking pants with zip-off legs, navy blue waterproof jacket, brown Hi-Tec hiking boots, and a khaki brown hiking hat with LED lights. He was likely in possession of a black JanSport backpack probably containing some survival items including an orange tarp, compass, flashlight, an native plant book and possibly water purification tablets. To date there has been no activity involving any of Schwartz’s bank or credit accounts since Oct. 19. “He brought no money as far as we know,” Jeremiah Schwartz said. Contact YCSO at (928) 771-3260 with any information.

RECENT MEDIA RELEASE BY YCSO SHERIFF'S OFFICE

As a family, we are continuing in our efforts to locate Jim.  Below is the most recent media release:


Media Release 
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Scott Mascher - Sheriff 255 E. Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 
Dwight D’Evelyn - Media Coordinator 928-777-7441
November 16, 2011- UPDATE – SCHWARTZ STILL MISSING
YCSO Seeking Public Help to Locate Missing Adult from Village of Oak Creek

***

Since October 19, 2011, the date 66-year-old James “Jim” Schwartz was last seen, YCSO deputies and detectives have continued to follow-up on tips. Schwartz apparently walked away from his home on that date after leaving a note indicating he planned to leave. Family members and friends have also continued ground searches in the Sedona/Village of Oak Creek subsequent to search efforts involving YCSO deputies/volunteers following the initial report. As of today, there has been no success in locating Mr. Schwartz. Within the last week, YCSO received a tip reporting Schwartz walking in downtown Prescott on October 22, 2011. In light of another previous reported sighting in Prescott, deputies have distributed flyers to homeless shelters and soup kitchens throughout the area. On October 27, 2011, YCSO received reports of a man matching Schwartz’s description in the Payson area.
Clothing update – This includes items he may be wearing or currently have access to: Black t-shirt, light grey fleece pullover (not a jacket), khaki hiking pants with zip-off legs that become shorts, navy blue waterproof jackets, brown hiking boots, and a brown hiking hat with LED lights in the style of a ball cap.
Schwartz is 5’ 08,” around 190 pounds with grey/brown hair. Family members state that he is diabetic, but not insulin dependent. He takes maintenance medication and it is unknown if those medications are with him. No activity involving any bank/credit cards accounts previously used by Schwartz has occurred since October 19, 2011.

YCSO personnel and family members are hoping Jim sees media reports and initiates some form of contact so family and the public at large know he is safe.
As indicated previously, since no verification of Schwartz has been made in any of the recent tips, we ask the public not to preclude a possibility he could still be in the VOC/Sedona area. YCSO encourages those hiking in and around Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek to keep alert for any sightings of Schwartz.
 
Please contact YCSO at 928-771-3260 or your local law enforcement agency if Schwartz is located.

Yesterday marked Four Weeks Since Pastor Jim's Disappearance from his home in Village of Oak Creek/Sedona Area on Wednesday October 19th, 2011.

It's amazing how much can change in 12 short weeks. 

12 weeks ago we were celebrating your retirement and sharing dreams for your new lifestyle, excited to hear about all of your plans after your years of service to the Lutheran Church. 

We miss and love you dad...

UPDATED FLYERS for posting! Thank you Sami!

DAY 26. Where Is Jim Schwartz?

Today's story in the Verde Independent:

http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=44766&TM=38359.39


Yesterday we posted new flyers in ZipLock Bags at major trailheads in the area just in time! It's rainy and dreary in Sedona Today...

Now we are off to church with a string of Paper Cranes to hang!

Today Marks Three Weeks Since Jim's Disappearance. It's DAY 22. Where are you?

 

This is a photo taken from the direction we feel Jim first headed when hiking alone Wednesday October 19th, exactly 22 days ago.

So where do we go from here? It has been three weeks of this new maddening reality. It feels like that part in Lassie when he barks to let you know Timmy fell into the well.  You know that feeling you get for the next 28 seconds of anticipation and excitement knowing Timmy is in danger and needs help, and the TV pans to follow his rescuer?  It's that feeling except those 28 seconds have lasted now 22 days and it's not a TV show. And there is no Lassie.  And it's not Timmy, 

it's our dad/husband/friend/brother/uncle/hero/pastor/neighbor/patron/taxpayer/community member/counselor/and so much more.  

And I don't want to watch it anymore.  But we can't just stop. He's out there in this enormous, expansive, massive, lonely desert.  There is snow on the ground just north of here and it's not getting any warmer.  

We are still continuing to search.  For those who heard rumors that "he was found" please know them to be just that: rumors.  Jim is STILL missing.  The sightings outside of Sedona are either unconfirmed or have been ruled out.

  It is amazing the many theories out there surrounding his disappearance, and we're sure they are well intended and everyone just want's to know WHY? As do we.  Why Jim? Why us? Why now? But most of all, we want to know WHERE. 

And that is what is next: WHERE

 

 

“The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need, if only we had the eyes to see.”
― Edward Abbey