Sheriff’s son still missing; truck found

by Alecia Warren

After an expansive search across the Sublette County region, the county sheriff’s department found the vehicle of missing Pinedale resident Garrett Bardin, son of Sublette County Sheriff Wayne Bardin.

Department deputies and Tip Top Search and Rescue personnel discovered the 24-year-old’s Lincoln pickup parked in Big Sandy just before dark on Tuesday. Search and rescue teams were scouring the area with dogs on Wednesday morning.

“(The next step) will be determined based on what’s dug up by the dogs,” said Undersheriff Jim Whinnery. “You follow the clues where they lead you.”

Garrett was last seen driving his truck on Saturday, June 21, heading South on Hwy 191.

Sheriff Bardin filed a missing person report on Tuesday morning when Garrett didn’t show up for work on the gas field. Whinnery, who said he’s watched Garrett grow up and become a responsible and hardworking young man, said it isn’t Garrett’s nature to leave without telling anyone his destination and then not answer his cell phone.

“It’s been hard for everyone, for me and other people in the department, especially those who have been out looking for him,” Whinnery said. “(The department) has grown extensively, but we’re still a family. We want to make sure everyone is taken care of.”

Search efforts began at about noon on Tuesday, with ATVs and a helicopter scouring the county for Garrett or his vehicle.

Sheriff Bardin has chosen not to involve himself in the search, as he has observed in past cases that families of missing persons can allow their emotions to dominate their decisions, Whinnery said.

The sheriff declined to comment on Wednesday morning because he preferred to wait until the search made more progress.

Randy Hanson, public information officer for the Sublette County Sheriff’s Department, said there were no known events leading up to Garrett’s disappearance that would have caused him to leave. Garrett is 5’11” and 175 lbs, with short brown hair and hazel eyes. Posters with his photo have been taped in prominent areas around town.

Please contact the sheriff’s department with any sightings or information: 367-4894.