LOCAL

Family believes best chance of finding missing father is on restricted land in Organ Mountains

Lucas Peerman
Las Cruces Sun-News
Steve Carey has been reported missing. He was last seen Monday, July 8, 2019, and his believed to be somewhere in the Organ Mountains.

LAS CRUCES - A family isn't calling off the search for a loved one they believe to be on White Sands Missile Range land in the Organ Mountains.

Steve Carey checked out of a hotel in Las Cruces on Monday, July 8, and hasn't been seen since.

New Mexico State Police found his vehicle parked at the western trail head for Baylor Canyon Pass early Friday. Area search and rescue teams scoured Baylor Canyon and nearby ridges that day, but called off the search due to heat. The family's plea for help from the community elicited volunteer searchers throughout the weekend, but still no sign of Carey.

"At this time, we now have some reason to believe that my Dad is likely on WSMR property, which can not be searched by civilians," the family reported Monday on the Las Cruces Community Watch Facebook page. "My Dad served our country as a government contractor for more than half his life, and we are hopeful that our contacts at the base, as well as public officials, will yield a search or fly over by authorized personnel."

The family said Carey "always wears" a dark brown, wide brim hat and often carries a Nalgene water bottle.

"My dad is an avid hiker and biker and was familiar with the area as he had spent a lot of time in the Organ Mountains area," the family reported.

Search and rescue

Grady Viramontes, the type one field coordinator for New Mexico State Police, coordinated search efforts for Carey on Friday.

He said he got the call about 1 a.m. Friday after state police located Carey's vehicle — a white 2007 Subaru Legacy — at the trail head.

By 8 a.m., members of four local search and rescue teams numbering about 30 people gathered at the western and eastern trail heads of Baylor Canyon Pass and began to search nearby peaks and valleys.

Viramontes said police found Carey's vehicle unlocked and the front door was slightly ajar. Inside were keys, Carey's wallet and cash. Missing from the vehicle was Carey's black Motobécane bicycle. 

Steve Carey has been reported missing. He was last seen Monday, July 8, 2019, and his believed to be somewhere in the Organ Mountains.

Carey was seen on his bicycle Sunday, July 7 on a trail near Dripping Springs Natural Area and at the Dripping Springs visitors center, Viramontes said.

Also, Carey had checked into a Las Cruces hotel on July 5 and checked out July 8 — that's the last time he was seen.

Viramontes said the search and rescue teams didn't find any clues on or near the Baylor Canyon Pass trail. By 2 p.m. Friday, temperatures in the Organs reached 100 degrees and the search was called off for the safety of the volunteers.

"We were looking for his mountain bike or bike tracks. We didn't find tracks on the trail or adjacent to it." he said. "We found no clues. It was over 100 degrees and we just can't search in that kind of heat."

The volunteer groups will be ready to search again if new information on Carey's whereabouts is revealed, Viramontes said.

Search continues

The Carey family has been active on social media, asking for the community's help. Several residents responded by walking trails and flying drones over the weekend.

Las Cruces photographer Robert Paquette posted drone video of the foothills of the Organ Mountains on his YouTube page.

Peter Grelle said he found out about Carey's disappearance Friday via the Neighbors app on his phone. He called up a hiking buddy and they went out first thing Saturday morning.

Grelle said he and his friend combed the Baylor Canyon, Dripping Springs, Tortugas "A" Mountain and Soledad Canyons areas throughout the weekend.

"If we were missing out there, we'd want people to do the same," said Grelle, who said he didn't know Carey nor his family before this weekend.

Some areas of the Organ Mountains are restricted because it's WSMR property.

"We can't search those areas," Viramontes explained. "Those are old bombing ranges and there could be live ordnance."

Search and rescue teams have been using drones to help find missing people, but can't in the Organs because of restricted airspace.

The family is appealing to WSMR and federal officials to allow searchers on the land or to do a flyover.

"At this time, we believe this our best chance of finding him, but we know the legality of it is complicated," the family said in a social media post.

Viramontes cautioned residents to be careful if looking for Carey in the Organ Mountains.

"It's just so hot out there. You have to take lots of water or you'll get over exerted," he said. 

To report information on Carey, call New Mexico State Police at 575-382-2500.

Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter.

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