Missing Marine in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains Presumed Dead

Courtesy of Mono County Sheriff's Office, Facebook page

UPDATE: Authorities say a Marine who went missing in California's Sierra Nevada more than a month ago probably has died.

  

The Orange County Register says the Marine Corps concluded Thursday that First Lt. Matthew Kraft probably was overcome by severe weather during winter storms.

  

Kraft is from Washington, Connecticut and he was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

  

The 24-year-old set out in late February on a planned 10-day solo ski trek covering the 195-mile Sierra High Route through the mountains.

  

The north-south route runs is mostly back country but also runs through Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks.

  

Kraft's father reported him missing in early March after he missed his return date.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Original Story: The Mono County Sheriff's Office says they need the public's help for information on a missing Marine's whereabouts.

They said 1st Lt. Matthew Kraft was reported missing to law enforcement after missing his return date from a backcountry skiing trip on the Sierra High Route.

Mono County Sheriff says he left near the Kearsarge Pass trailhead on February 23 and was scheduled to return on March 4 or 5 near Bridgeport, California.

They said they began the search on March 4 and was expanded on March 5. They now are in a joint operation with Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple agencies are involved.

Mono County Sheriff says they are searching for the Marine's rental vehicle, a two-door gray 2016 Jeep Wrangler, assumed to be near his trip's start near Independence, California.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Inyo County Sheriff's Office at (760) 878-0383, Mono County Sheriff's Office at (760) 932-7549 or Fresno County Sheriff's Office at (559) 600-8400.

Mono County Sheriff says additional queries can contact the 1st Marine Division press officer Capt. Paul Gainey at (760) 725-9226 or by email at paul.gainey@usmc.mil.

(The Mono County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report).

 

Mono County Sheriff's Office