CORNELIUS, Ore. — The family of Ralph Brown – the former mayor of Cornelius who has been missing since May 16 – held a news conference Wednesday afternoon. His family and friends said they wanted to get the word out.
Brown, 76, struggles with dementia and would have a hard time finding his way home, his family said. He has not has his heart or memory medication since he left his home near the 600 block of South 12th Avenue in Cornelius. He was driving his 2014 Blue Nissan Sentra with Oregon license plate 319KQV.
Washington County sheriff’s detectives said Brown could be anywhere. The effort to find Brown is ongoing.
Brown’s family released this timeline of events, which includes several possible sightings:
- May 16, 6:30 p.m. — Left home in Cornelius
- May 17, 5 p.m. — Possibly seen in Newberg on Springbrook & Hwy 99
- May 23, 2:30 p.m. — Possibly seen at the North Trailhead of Silver Falls
- May 23, 5:10 p.m. — Possibly seen at gas station in Eagle Creek
Brown is about 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes and is missing the tip of his right index finger. His family said he has a distinctive shuffle to his walk.
Brown committed his life to public service. He is the former mayor of Cornelius, former Forest Grove School Board Member, involved in the Oregon Road Runners Club, worked in multiple Oregon school districts as principal and vice principal, and is a member of the United Church of Christ of Forest Grove.
"He’s kind of the original community organizer," his daughter-in-law Gretchen Brown said Wednesday.
His wife is in the hospital recovering from surgery. His daughter, Laurie Saunders, said during the press conference that she had spoken to her father the Sunday before he went missing and told him she was coming to town to spoil him and help her mother recover.
"I am still here, I am ready to spoil you, you need to come home," she said.
It is believed that his cell phone is dead and there has been no activity on his credit card.
"All the crews have dried up. There’s no credit card activity. The phone has been head since Sunday the 16," family friend Angella Graves said. "He probably had a little bit of cash on him, but it’s unknown and we’re also concerned that he hasn’t had his heart medication or memory medication since Sunday the 16."
If you see or know anything about where he may be, please call non-emergency dispatch at (503) 629-0111.
