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Bulletin
IMPORTANT
Sources have reported Robert Woodie's age being either 56 or 74. Woodie's case file will list his age being 74, as reported by the National Park Service. Although it is mentioned in a memorial website that he may have been a victim of a rockslide, Missing NPF will list the cause of death as "undetermined/unreleased" until an official statement is found.
The body of a Manhattan Beach man who disappeared nearly nine months ago while hiking in the Sierra has been found, national park officials said Thursday, July 6, 2017.
The recovery of the remains of Robert Woodie — a former butcher who ran a handyman business in the South Bay — marks a grim end to a search that began in October.
Woodie, 74, was reported missing after he did not return from a four-day backpacking trek in Kings Canyon National Park. His solo hiking trip started on October 13, 2016, and a satellite messaging device indicated Woodie was in the area of Barrett Lakes about October 15.
“He was an experienced hiker,” said Zach Behrens, a spokesman for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. “He knew the area.”
Around that time, a cold spell hit that part of the Sierra Nevada, with strong winds, temperatures below freezing at night and snow at higher elevations.
A memorial website set up by Woodie’s son has said that Woodie was believed to be a victim of a rock slide.
On July 6, 2017, a group of hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail found a body about 300 feet from the Bishop Pass trail. The next morning, authorities recovered the remains and the Inyo County coroner’s office identified the body as Woodie’s, county officials said in a statement.
The search for Woodie began October 18, 2016, two days after his scheduled return. The search area consisted of Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail for the length of Le Conte Canyon.
More than 130 people joined in the search effort, which was called off on October 28.
“High winds, snow and freezing conditions made searching unsafe and locating clues became impossible,” Inyo County officials said in a statement.
Woodie, who was known as Bob, was a 56-year resident of Manhattan Beach who is survived by a wife and two sons.
After a three-decade career as a butcher, he retired and ran a handyman business.
“His handyman clients delighted in reporting the high quality of his work and his practice of under charging,” said an obituary published on a website set up by one of his sons. “For him, work was less about the money and more about engaging with nice people on a daily basis.”
Woodie was a skilled outdoorsman who took his children and grandchildren into the wilderness. Often he would go on trips alone.
“The eastern Sierra backcountry was his church,” the obituary states, “and he worshiped at the altar of its trout fishing.”
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Personal Characteristics
Male
74 years old
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Sexual Orientation: HETEROSEXUAL
Race: WHITE
Classification: DAY/NIGHT HIKER
Professional Affiliation: SERVICE
Investigative Overview
Foul Play Suspected: Unknown / Undisclosed
Suspected Suicide: Unknown / Undisclosed
Cause of Death: Undetermined / Unreleased
Significant Dates
Reported missing on October 18, 2016 - 2540 days, 19 hours, 59 minutes ago
Found on July 6, 2017 - 2279 days, 19 hours, 59 minutes ago
This case file was posted on
Sep 06, 2021 at 18:53
This case file was last modified on
Sep 06, 2021 at 18:53
This case file has been assigned the Missing Persons ID 6514
Disclaimer
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Missing NPF lists “Foul Play Suspected,” “Suspected Suicide,” “Cause of Death,” and other elements of data in association with public reporting. These settings do not reflect the opinions of Missing NPF and/or its staff. Unless explicitly noted, Missing NPF does not publicize opinion, nor are any of the initial reports written – or edited – by members of Missing NPF. All content (with the exception of “IMPORTANT” notices, listed toward the top of applicable case files) are the works of external persons, sources and/or entities. All pictures displayed on this case file have been downloaded from the public domain, unless a user has commented or otherwise transmitted a picture to Missing NPF or its social media accounts. Case updates are derived from external persons, sources, and/or entities, and do not reflect the internal work of Missing NPF, unless expressly noted.
Navarro Fernando
May 19, 2022 at 5:49 pm
I knew bob woodie from lucky market as he worked in the meat department and I worked in the produce area bob was an awesome guy and a pleasure to work with. I knew of his excursions because he’d always talk about them and he was so happy when he was out in the wild. After Albertsons took over lucky we lost touch because everyone was placed at different stores around Los Angeles and I lost contact with bob so when I saw this on the news it was a shock and was very sad to hear. But knowing bob he probably didn’t mind going home this way. Prayers to the woodie family from the familia Navarro.
Navarro Fernando
May 19, 2022 at 5:49 pmI knew bob woodie from lucky market as he worked in the meat department and I worked in the produce area bob was an awesome guy and a pleasure to work with. I knew of his excursions because he’d always talk about them and he was so happy when he was out in the wild. After Albertsons took over lucky we lost touch because everyone was placed at different stores around Los Angeles and I lost contact with bob so when I saw this on the news it was a shock and was very sad to hear. But knowing bob he probably didn’t mind going home this way. Prayers to the woodie family from the familia Navarro.