Reward offered for information about missing McMinnville resident

Pete Kosky, the father of 24-year-old Sean Kosky, who was reported missing in late September in the rugged Miller Woods area west of McMinnville, announced Friday he is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of his son.

Kosky is also placing an ad in the News-Register to raise awarness of his son's disappearance. He plans to run the ad for a month.

The search for Kosky, last seen at a home where he was temporarily staying on the 130-acre Miller Woods property, six miles west of McMinnville on Orchard View Road, was launched Oct. 1.

Despite Oregon Air Guard helicopter support, dog teams and highly trained search and rescue squads that scoured the area for Kosky initially, there has been no trace of him to date.

Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree made the decision Oct. 4 to scale back the massive air and ground search. However, family members and friends organized a private search the weekend of Oct. 6-7.

All Kosky was wearing when he disappeared was light sleepware and flip-flops. He lacked a cell phone, warm clothing, food and water. He also lacked the medication he takes for severe and frequent epileptic seizures.

Crabtree said when the search was scaled back there was no indication he caught a ride with someone and left the area.

"The stories I was told when I learned he was missing did not make a lot of sense," said Pete Kosky, a Portland businessman who is vice-president of Star Rentals. "There were inconsistencies in the stories.

"I know Sean very well. He was not suicidal. He definitely would not have walked out into the woods, leaving his cigarettes, medications, money and wallet sitting there (in the home where he was staying at the time)."

Kosky said there is "something more to this story" as it relates to his son. He admits he does not believe he is still alive but he wants closure for the family.

Sean's mother, Denise Farnham, and Kosky are divorced. Sean has a step-brother and a biological sister.

"I won't speculate on what happened," he said. "I have my own opinions. Right now, the bottom line is we need to move forward and get as much information as possible regarding where he is."

Anyone with information about Kosky's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office tip line at 1-800-577-1707 or detective Don Stackpole at 503-434-7506, according to Capt. Tim Svenson.

See Tuesday's print edition for more information.