Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Missing Shasta County Man Found Dead Near Westwood

A Shasta county resident, who was reported missing by a friend in March, was found dead this week near Westwood after a search involving multiple agencies recovered his body from an area along Moonlight Road.

“On March 21st,” explains Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Laura Johnson, “Shasta County residents, Mark Bailey and Charles Reifert were reported missing by a friend after they failed to return home after leaving the area on March 13th.”

“Their friend suspected they might go to a cabin near Susanville, but was unaware of the exact location.”

A search of cellphone records by the LCSO indicated that the pair had likely arrived in Lassen County on March 13th. The Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol searched between Westwood and Susanville with no success.

On April 2nd, one of the men, Mark Bailey, surfaced on foot in Westwood and called his brother to come pick him up.

His brother called the Sheriff’s Office and a deputy contacted Bailey at the Dollar General in Westwood.

Bailey told the deputy that three weeks prior he and Reifert had driven east on Moonlight Road towards a cabin that is owned by a family friend.

“Prior to arriving, Bailey and Reifert’s vehicle got stuck in the snow, so they abandoned it and walked approximately 200 yards to the cabin.” said Johnson. The weather then deteriorated and the men were snowbound for several days.

“For unknown reasons, Reifert decided to leave the cabin in the middle of the night with his dogs and never returned.”

Approximately 10-days later, Bailey left the cabin on foot, where he was eventually picked up by a passing motorist and taken to the Dollar General.

Several members from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area after the report and searched tirelessly for Charles until nightfall, but were unsuccessful.

“The following morning, members of the Sheriff’s Office returned to the area to conduct a search with the assistance of the United States Forest Service, Susanville Fire Department and members from the Lassen County Sheriff Search and Rescue.”

After several hours of searching, Reifert’s body was located. One of his dogs was also located and transported to the Lassen County Animal Shelter.

Reifert’s cause of death is undetermined at this time and is under investigation with the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office.

Jeremy Couso
Jeremy Couso
SusanvilleStuff.com Publisher/Editor
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