Gary Kiehl, 78 of Arroyo Grande was reported missing on May 12. His vehicle was found at Pirates Cove, and a massive search was launched to find him, Submitted photo
The Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team has been leading the effort to locate a missing Arroyo Grande man, who was last seen at Pirates Cove in Avila Beach.
According to a new release from Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla, at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 they received a missing person report for 78-year-old Gary Kiehl of Arroyo Grande. Kiehl was reported missing after he didn’t pick up someone at the train station.
“Friends reported they had become worried when Kiehl was supposed to pick someone up on May 12 at the Grover Beach train station,” Cipolla said, “but failed to show up.”
The last confirmed contact with Kiehl was at 2 p.m. the previous day, May 11, he added.
Deputies located Kiehl’s unoccupied vehicle parked at Pirates Cove in Avila Beach, Cipolla said. They were told that Kiehl liked to hike along the cliffs at the cove, which triggered a full-on search and rescue response.
“The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team (SAR) responded to the location and began searching for Kiehl,” Cipolla said, “which lasted into the overnight hours on May 13.”
SAR was joined by the County Office of Emergency Services’ Cellular Forensic Team or FALCON, a Coast Guard helicopter and USCG cutter, the Port San Luis Harbor Patrol, and Cal Fire’s water rescue craft.
Kiehl is an adult, white, male, 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has no history of missing person reports, Cipolla said.
“Kiehl is said to enjoy walking along the cliffs in the Pirates Cove area,” Cipolla said. “At this time, this incident is not considered suspicious.”
Those cliffs, which tower about 200-feet above the beach below, are pretty treacherous. Numerous people have fallen off to their deaths over the years. Pirates Cove is a clothing-optional public beach.
If anyone has information on Kiehl’s whereabouts, call the Sheriff’s Office at 805-781-4550.
