December 15, 2021 9:30 a.m. 

A missing Myrtle Creek woman was found deceased near Tiller on Tuesday afternoon.

Detective Kevin Taggart of Myrtle Creek Police said on November 27th at about 1:30 a.m., 77-year old Bonnie Jo Short left her residence driving an SUV.

Taggart said over the next two weeks, an extensive search was conducted by MCPD, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue.

On Monday shortly after 6:30 p.m. a citizen searching for loose cattle in the area of Salt Creek Road reported spotting the woman’s vehicle off the roadway on an old logging road. DCSO deputies responded to the area and located Short’s vehicle unoccupied. Taggart said evidence at the scene suggests the woman was trying to back up on the dirt road when her vehicle partially slid off the roadway and became stuck. The SUV was approximately 5 miles up Dompier Creek Road off of South Umpqua Road.

Tuesday morning, agencies conducted another search utilizing the MCPD’s drone, Search and Rescue’s drone, a Search and Rescue K9 and ground crews. Jackson County Search and Rescue also sent crews to the area to assist.

At about 12:45 p.m. shortly before the Jackson County team arrived, Short’s deceased body was located by SAR about 2/10th of a mile from her vehicle.

Taggart said Douglas County Medicolegal Death Investigator Craig Kinney responded and took possession of the body.

There were no signs of anything suspicious and foul play was not involved.

Taggart said MCPD would like to thank the citizens who called in tips, hung missing person fliers in businesses and assisted in locating the woman.