The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A search is underway east of Sisters for Chad Hurtley, a well-known Sisters area man who has not returned from a horseback ride in the Cline Buttes area.

Sgt. Nathan Garibay of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Sunday, September 1 at approximately 4:45 p.m., DCSO was notified of a found horse on Cline Falls Road. Upon further investigation, it was determined the horse belonged to the 49-year-old Hurtley who now lives in Redmond. It was also determined, Hurtley left his home near Cline Falls Road around 10:30 a.m. on horseback. He regularly rides from home into the Cline Buttes area for a few hours and then returns home.

“It appears that on this occasion, Hurtley and his horse became separated and the horse returned towards Hurtley’s home,” Garibay reported.

Hurtley is approximately six feet tall and 195 pounds, with salt and pepper hair. He was last seen wearing a white long sleeve western shirt, blue jeans, boots, and a straw cowboy hat. The horse he was riding is described as a chestnut colored (reddish brown with a similar colored main and tail) quarter horse.

Deputies assisted by SAR volunteers searched into the night. A LifeFlight Helicopter searched the area before dark, but did not locate Hurtley. Friends and family also searched the area. Deputies continued to search the area roads through the night.

Anyone who saw Hurtley on this date or has information on his whereabouts are asked to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office through non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.