A man that grew up in Wellington County is missing in California.
32-year-old Rick Eastep, who attended Salem Public School in Elora, went hiking in California earlier this month, but was reported missing on January 9.
According to a release from the Humboldt County Sheriff's office, the person that made the report said Eastep sent them a text message saying he may have suffered a back injury, however, the text appeared to have been sent on January 7, but not received until 48 hours later.
Eastep works as a presentation technologies specialist at the University of Waterloo. In a statement, the school says they are aware of the search for Eastep and are deeply saddened by the news that search and rescue teams have suspended their search for him.
During the search, crews located a backpack, which family later identified as Eastep's. His car was located in a parking lot of Black Sands Beach, close to the end of the Lost Coast Trail.
Anyone that has had contact with Eastep in the last several days, or has information on his whereabouts, should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department at (707) 445-7251.
Rick Eastep (Photo Courtesy of Sharon Grose)
