MURPHY, Ore. (Mar. 21, 2026) — Authorities in southern Oregon are searching for a 37-year-old man who was reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip Friday morning along the Applegate River.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office said Reif Gehrke was last seen around 9 a.m. March 20 near Murphy Bridge on Williams Highway, where he had been dropped off with a black and green pontoon boat.
According to officials, Gehrke planned to fish the Applegate River and was expected to call when he finished his trip but never made contact.
He is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes. At the time he was last seen, Gehrke was wearing green waders, green tennis shoes, a light green sweatshirt, a black hat and sunglasses.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen Gehrke or his pontoon boat, or who has information about his whereabouts, to contact the sheriff’s office at 541-474-5131.
No additional details were immediately available.
UPDATE: Reif has been located safely. No additional information was provided by officials at this time.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
