News

Missing elderly man found dead after massive search

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 25, 2024

A man who went missing Thursday afternoon was found dead Sunday morning after a massive search by 26 law enforcement agencies and fire departments over two days, the city of Hendersonville said in a news release.

The Hendersonville Police Department issued a Silver Alert for 85-year-old Orrin Jefferson Brown on Friday, reporting that he had been last seen the day before driving on Ridge Road at Oleta Road in Dana. After Brown’s abandoned Nissan was found on Big Hungry Road on Friday, emergency personnel organized searches of the heavily wooded and challenging terrain nearby. Authorities reported no evidence of suspicious activity or foul play in Brown's death. The city expressed its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Brown.

Over the past 2½ days, more than 200 first responders were involved in the investigation, search and recovery effort. The Hendersonville Police Department expressed thanks for the hard work and collaboration of the following agencies: 

Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue 
Buncombe County EMS 
Buncombe County Rescue Squad 
Burke County EMS and Emergency Management 
Caldwell County Emergency Services 
City of Shelby Fire Department 
Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, NC Wing 
Cleveland County Emergency Management 
Edneyville Fire & Rescue 
Etowah Horse Shoe VFRD 
Gaston County EMS 
Green River Fire & Rescue 
Grover Volunteer Fire Dept 
Haywood County Search & Rescue 
Henderson County Rescue Squad 
Henderson County Emergency Services 
Henderson County Sheriff's Office 
Henderson County EMS 
Lincoln County Emergency Management 
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office 
NC Wildlife Commission 
North Carolina Emergency Management 
Polk County Sheriff’s Office 
Saluda Fire and Rescue 
Spartanburg County Search & Rescue 
Transylvania County Rescue Squad