Camp Pendleton Marine Still Missing: Search Continues In Sierras

CAMP PENDLETON, CA – A multi-agency search for a missing Camp Pendleton Marine, Lt. Matthew Kraft, 24, continues this week with avalanche experts and volunteers traversing the upper regions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains for any sign of the man, but hampered by weather conditions, according to authorities.

Two avalanche experts on Monday were dropped into Kearsarge Pass by California Highway Patrol air operations units to assess avalanche risks for further search efforts for missing 1st Lt. Kraft, officials said.

Due to the region being blanketed by snow and avalanche debris, Inyo County search-and-rescue teams also used a snowcat to search the upper sections of Onion Valley Road west of Independence, in an attempt to find Kraft, a native of Washington, CT., whose father reported him missing March 4, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office said.

Commissioned in 2016 as a Marine Corps officer and a graduate from such rigorous training as the Infantry Officer Course and Winter Mountain Leaders Course, Kraft’s hike plan included the 195-mile Sierra High Route with the belief he hiked out of Kearsarge Pass on Feb. 24 with a plan to conclude his hike near the Twin Lakes area by Bridgeport on March 4 or 5, officials said.

Kraft’s father contacted the Mono County Sheriff's Office after not hearing from his son, and a search immediately was launched by deputies, the agency said, working from the fact that Kraft's last cell-phone activity was logged in the Independence area.

On March 8, Kraft’s vehicle was located at the Grays Meadows campground above Independence, Mono County deputies said.

Aerial and ground search operations have been utilized, however, weather conditions in the Sierra proved "a significant challenge," as has avalanche activity throughout the wilderness, including along the Sierra High Route, authorities said.

“Snow instability will remain a challenge as search teams attempt to clear portions of the route,” stated Inyo Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Coordinator, Sergeant Nate Derr.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Commander Dave Fox added, “We know the public is very interested in helping with the ground search effort, but due to the extreme hazards in the search area, we are not requesting any outside units at this time."

Agencies assisting in the search include Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Fresno County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, Air National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps., Fresno Sheriff, Mono Sheriff, Inyo Sheriff, and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks, Madera County Sheriff, Yosemite National Park and California Office of Emergency Services, plus two Marines from Kraft's unit are assisting authorities with search efforts at the Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

Anyone with information regarding Kraft’s whereabouts is asked to call Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 878-0383/ option 4; Mono County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 932-7549/ option 7; or Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-8400.

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