Mail Tribune News - Missing man, girl seen in Beaverton

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2001-07-11

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Missing man, girl seen in Beaverton Both seem fine, bank employees report By Jill Briskey One hour before Julie Wisdom held an emotional press conference Friday pleading for any news about her missing husband and daughter�s whereabouts, the two were spotted in a Beaverton bank where the husband cashed a check. According to Detective Eric Fox of the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department, Jeff Wisdom, 43, of Ashland, and his 4-year-old daughter, Jill, were spotted in a Beaverton bank around 1:30 p.m. Friday. The girl apparently was wearing the same pink outfit she wore the day she disappeared. The two haven�t been seen since and have failed to make contact with friends or family. "At this point, we don�t really know what the situation is," Fox said. "We would certainly like to know where they are now." Julie Wisdom reported the disappearance of her husband and child when the two failed to return home from a trip to Cottage Grove Wednesday. Family members searching for the pair found Jeff Wisdom�s Suburban abandoned by the Drain exit along Interstate 5 Thursday. A note inside indicated that the vehicle had mechanical difficulties and that the two were going for help. Suspecting foul play, Julie Wisdom said her husband was too responsible and that the behavior was out of character. Fox said Julie Wisdom did not report any marital difficulties, and that she said her husband did not abuse alcohol or illegal substances. "I know how much my husband loves me; I know how much my daughter misses me," Julie Wisdom said at the press conference Friday. "We have gotten the impression they are safe, but we don�t know where." According to Fox, a bank manager and teller from Beaverton reported that Jeff Wisdom cashed a counter check Friday and that his daughter was with him at the time. The bank employees had seen a television broadcast about the missing father and daughter only hours before the sighting, he said. Jeff Wisdom used his driver�s license to withdraw an undisclosed sum of money, Fox said. According to witness reports, the two appeared to be in good physical and mental condition, he added. "They came into the bank, and everything seemed to be fine," Fox said. "The little girl appeared to be talkative." Family members, after hearing the news, plan to continue their search efforts, Fox added. "They were relieved and happy that they were safe," he said. "At least the worst-case scenario didn�t happen." Jeff and Jill Wisdom will remain listed as missing persons until they have been contacted by law enforcement authorities. Fox urges anyone who spots the pair to contact the sheriff�s office at 776-7131. "We want law enforcement to talk to him and ascertain his mental health," Fox said. "Something fishy is going on, and we want to know more." At this point, since there was no custody battle, no real crime has taken place, Fox said. "That�s something we may look into later," he added. Jeff Wisdom is a ranch manager in the Greensprings area.   Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.