Clothing Linked to Missing Resident Gil Clark Discovered

DOWNIEVILLE — The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office has been leading the search for Gil Clark, a Goodyears Bar resident who was reported missing in August and last seen in the Downieville area. Searchers conducted an extensive ground and air search at that time, including helicopter overflights, but found no sign of him.

After months of interviews and follow-up on public tips, a Sierra County deputy conducted a new search on November 14 well outside the original search area and located clothing and personal items that appear to belong to Clark. Based on that discovery, the Sheriff’s Office requested help from Nevada County Search and Rescue, which conducted a follow-up search in the Goodyears Bar area on November 15. Four cadaver dogs were deployed during the operation, but no additional evidence was located.

The Sheriff’s Office also reports that bear activity was noted by searchers back in August, and local residents had reported recent mountain lion sightings nearby. Based on the evidence gathered to date, Sheriff Mike Fisher believes Clark suffered a medical emergency that incapacitated him or caused his death, and that a bear or mountain lion subsequently dragged him from the location.

Multiple bones were found during Saturday’s search, but Chico State Anthropology Department staff determined they were not human. The recovered clothing will be submitted to the California Department of Justice laboratory for possible DNA matching to Clark and to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife laboratory for animal DNA analysis.

The investigation remains active, and the Sheriff says “the search continues.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 289-3700.