A search is underway at Joshua Tree National Park for a Twentynine Palms man missing more than a week, a park spokesperson said.
Patrick Lynn Welz, 38, was last seen June 5, 2021, when he left to drive to Riverside to visit his father, park spokesperson Jennie Albrinck said in a press release issued Friday.
He was reported missing on Thursday, June 10, 2021, and park staff found his truck in the Indian Cove parking lot the same day, Albrinck said.
Welz is described as a white, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 197 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, dragon and United States Marine Corps insignia tattoos on his arms.
He is believed to have been wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and either tennis shoes or black work boots.
Joshua Tree National Park is working on an investigation and organizing a search operation, Albrinck said.
Park rangers are asking anyone who may have seen or talked to Welz to call or text the National Park Service investigation tip line at (760) 401-3075.
Rangers request that anyone conducting a private search should cease so that they can assess the areas without contamination of physical clues necessary to this investigation, Albrinck said.
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Personal Characteristics
Male
38 years old
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 197 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Investigative Overview
Foul Play Suspected: Unknown / Undisclosed
Suspected Suicide: Unknown / Undisclosed
Cause of Death: Undetermined / Unreleased
Significant Dates
Reported missing on June 10, 2021 - 914 days, 3 hours, 30 minutes ago
Found on June 12, 2021 - 912 days, 3 hours, 30 minutes ago
This case file was posted on
Jun 11, 2021 at 12:06
This case file was last modified on
Jun 15, 2021 at 09:03
This case file has been assigned the Missing Persons ID 4723
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Judaea Rojo
July 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm6/14/21 Update: A body found in Joshua Tree National Park has been identified as Patrick Welz. More here: https://kesq.com/news/2021/06/14/coroner-confirms-missing-mans-body-found-at-joshua-tree-national-park/
Judaea Rojo
July 10, 2021 at 6:59 pm6/13/21 Update: A body was found while searching for Patrick Welz. More here: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/06/13/body-found-joshua-tree-national-park/7679559002/