After nearly a day of intense search efforts, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has reported the successful location of Frederick Wilhelm Jr., a 59-year-old Riverside resident who went missing during a hike on the Vivian Creek Trail in Forest Falls. San Bernardino Officials stated in a press release that Wilhelm was found and safely escorted off the mountain on Monday afternoon, June 3, 2024.
Wilhelm had set out on the trail with two friends the previous day and was last seen at approximately 1:00 p.m. The separation from his party on the ascent led to his disappearance and subsequent search efforts, which were coordinated by the Search and Rescue team of the County Sheriff’s Department. Described as 5’11” with light hair and blue eyes, Wilhelm was reported to be wearing a blue sweatshirt, tan pants, armed with a forest green camel pack, and walking poles at the time he went missing. The Sheriff’s Department was aided in their search by tips from the public following their initial plea for information.
The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department extended thanks to the community for their assistance and shared relief in the resolution of the search. Detailed descriptions and calls for community assistance in locating Wilhelm were circulated in the hours of the search, which included public outreach for anyone with information to contact Deputy Eugene Juarez at the Yucaipa Police Department or Sheriff's Dispatch, with contact information provided in the announcement of Wilhelm's initial disappearance.
Individuals with additional information regarding the incident or future emergencies are still encouraged to reach out to Detective S. Swanson or Deputy E. Juarez at the Yucaipa Police Department. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, headed by Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus, always aims to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike, taking swift action upon reports of missing persons or other critical incidents within the county's jurisdiction.
