PORTLAND, Ore. – Police and family say they believe a California priest and woman who vanished two weeks ago may have been on a day trip outdoors when they disappeared.
Longtime friends David Schwartz, 52, a Jesuit from Orange County, and Cheryl Gibbs, 61, a government employee from Alameda, were last seen June 7 at a Portland-area hotel.
They were vacationing along the West Coast. After a visit to Portland, they planned to go to Bend, then to a camping site near Chico, Calif., and then to arrive in Sacramento over the weekend, family members said Wednesday.
"Our belief is they were out of the central Portland area and are struggling to get back," said David's brother, Glen Schwartz, 50.
Police said the two left most of their belongings in the hotel, and the items they took suggested they went on a day trip.
Schwartz's mother and brother came to Portland to help with the search. They said the two are outdoor enthusiasts and regularly make the outdoors part of the vacations they've taken over the years.
Schwartz had been to Portland before and went to school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, but family members said they were unsure how familiar he is with the area.
Portland Police Detective Michael Weinstein said there was no indication where the two may have gone. Their red, 2005 Toyota Camry with California plates has not been located.
It's unknown if they had a laptop, and police would not say if they had a cell phone.
Family said it's unusual for either Schwartz or Gibbs to fall out of contact or fail to show up as planned.
Police said they've had trailheads, parking lots and other Oregon spots believed to be of interest to the two checked for a sign of them or their car.
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