Aidan Clune Update Aidan Clune Update Contact: Undersheriff Justin Ames FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Telephone: (775) 738-3421 Email:
jkames@elkocountynv.net Date: May 24, 2022 Missing Teen in Southern Elko County (UPDATE)
The Elko County Sheriff's Office has suspended the active search for Aidan Clune in the Cherry Creek Mountain Range, located west of Currie, NV. We will continue the investigation into his disappearance until the case is solved.
The following are the facts that we know at this time: Aidan traveled from California to Utah on April 26, 2022. He then stayed the night in Wells, NV and checked out of the hotel room at approximately 6:23 AM on the morning of April 27, 2022. He traveled southbound on US93 and parked his pickup truck in the shoulder of US93 near mile marker 23. At approximately 8:50 AM on the 27th an NHP Trooper found the vehicle abandoned.
The Sheriff’s Office was notified of the situation on April 28, 2022 and we began a search for Aidan. His tracks were located leaving the area where the pickup was abandoned, and he was tracked for over 10 air miles. During the tracking process Aidan was taking off his shoes and running part of the time. He would remove his shoes and walk across roads barefoot. There were no additional tracks near Aidan’s footprints, thus indicating he was alone as he walked. Aidan left the vehicle with no additional clothing, or survival gear that would indicate that he was pleasure hiking.
The investigation has revealed that he did not have any warrants, or other criminal activity that would have caused him to run from authorities. It is our belief that Aidan was suffering from a mental episode that caused him to not only leave his vehicle, but that he made very intentional efforts to not be found. Aidan’s tracks were eventually eroded by rain and snow. The tracks were lost in the Cherry Creek Mountains several miles west of US-93.
Multiple agencies assisted in the search for Aidan, including Elko County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Great Basin K-9, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, BLM, Nevada Fish and Game, White Pine County Sheriff's Office, Lander County Sheriff's Office, and the Civil Air Patrol.
Volunteers covered hundreds of miles searching or Aidan including over 157 miles with K-9s, 651 miles with volunteers walking, 85 miles on horseback, 265 miles on ATVs, and hours of searching with aircraft. Almost 1,700 manhours have been utilized in the search.
For our outdoors enthusiasts that may be recreating in the area of Cherry Creek Mountains, please be on the lookout for any clues that may assist in locating Aidan.
Included with this press release are the pictures of the tracks that were followed and a map of the area that was searched.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Elko Central Dispatch at 775-777-7300. You can also contact the Elko County Sheriff's Office at 775-738-3421 or by submitting a tip using the Elko County Sheriff's Office App.
oag.ca.gov
