Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Location: Three Sisters Wilderness
Deceased: John David Mulcahy, 66-year-old male, St. Helens, Oregon
Narrative:
On August 18th, 2023, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report of an overdue hiker.
As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined John Mulcahy left the Pole Creek Trailhead on the morning of August 15, 2023, with the intent to summit the North Sister and the Middle Sister in one day and return to the Pole Creek Trailhead that evening. Family members had not heard from Mr. Mulcahy and opted to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to report him as an overdue subject.
Air Link was contacted and agreed to fly the area on the afternoon of the August 18th, however, did not locate Mr. Mulcahy.
On August 19th, 2023, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit sent a mountain rescue team up to the area. The Army National Guard flew the area and located a deceased subject, which was believed to be John Mulcahy at about 2:00 pm on the afternoon of August 19th.
Due to the location of Mr. Mulcahy the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit was unable to recover him.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves 210,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 265 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 195 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
