By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – We’ve learned a lot from law enforcement since we published our story Monday on 32-year-old Kevin Richter, who’s been missing since Thursday of last week.
There have been a lot of justifiable questions about why an all-out effort by search and rescue teams hasn’t been launched, as was the case when Isaac Rivas went missing just the day before.
As reported, Richter’s bicycle and cell phone were found on a remote logging road in the heavily wooded area between Joyce and Crescent Beach. What hasn’t been reported until now is that Richter left home suffering from a mental health crisis, and that he is believed to be armed with at least a handgun. The Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King has more.
“Yes. Certainly, it presents challenges for us. And utilizing our volunteers to search for a subject who’s in crisis, who is armed, it’s much more of a volatile situation than our traditional searches for a lost person.”
Investigators have also studied the phone Richter left behind and his recent searches have revealed an important thing to consider.
“Based on his cellular phone searches, that he had been viewing articles on how to survive for extended periods of time in the woods, building shelters, as well as generally how to disappear. So there is some belief by both friends and family that he does not want to be found, and some of his bank activity does support that.”
King says they have had some limited personnel checking the area, which is described as rough terrain with limited visibility. But most of the search activity, including the use of drones, are being conducted by friends and family, and the Sheriff’s office is assisting with advice and technology.
“Yeah, you know, for most of these people, these are acquaintances of Kevin. They’re already out there. They want to be out there. However, we do know that Kevin knew the area well and that there’s a lot of friends and family that are like, you know, Kevin would not be lost here. And so, obviously, that’s a factor that’s playing into our decision-making processes. That not only they felt like they’ve covered the majority of this rural area, but that just his knowledge of the area and the fact that he is an outdoorsman certainly is a head-scratcher for many.”
King says there’s also reason to suspect that Richter may not be in the woods at all, but instead may have staged the scene and left the area altogether.
Kevin Richter is described as 5’8” tall, 180 pounds. Last seen Thursday around 11:30am around the Crescent Beach area wearing Carhartt pants with a camouflage hooded sweatshirt.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you’re asked to call the Sheriff’s dispatch at (360) 417-2459.
(Banner graphic: Red dot shows exact coordinates of items found by Richter family)