Casper Star-Tribune Online

Advanced Search

Missing man's truck at least five miles away from Rainbow Gathering

Story Tools

Print this story

E-mail this story

Rate this story

Text Size

Share This Story:

trib.popular

By CHRIS MERRILL
Star-Tribune staff writer

Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:56 AM MDT

PINEDALE -- A missing Sublette County man's pickup truck was found at the end of a two-track road about 3 to 4 miles west of the Big Sandy Ranch area, and at least five miles away from the Rainbow Family Gathering, an official said Thursday.

Garrett Bardin's Lincoln Mark LT truck was not parked near established parking areas for the Rainbow Gathering of Living Light, said Randall Hanson, public information officer with the Sublette County Sheriff's Office.

Bardin, 24, is the son of Sublette County Sheriff Wayne Bardin and has been missing since Saturday. Officials commenced a search for him Tuesday.

The truck was discovered Tuesday by a volunteer search team working in conjunction with the Sublette County Sheriff's Office, but Bardin has yet to be found, Hanson said.

There were no other cars parked within 4 or 5 miles of Bardin's truck, Hanson said.

The Rainbow camp is approximately five miles northeast of the rugged track where the pickup was found, he said.

Twelve search and rescue teams searched the area Wednesday and this morning, using ATVs, dogs and a helicopter, but so far to no avail.

Hanson said it has rained a couple times since the car was left, which might be hampering the dogs' abilities to find a scent.

Officials are asking everyone who has any information about the whereabouts of Bardin, or who believe they might have seen him, to call 307-367-4894 or 307-367-4378.

Bardin is 5-foot-11 with brown hair and hazel eyes, and he weighs 175 pounds.


Sheriff urges caution with Rainbow participants		Supreme Court rules in favor of gun ownership rights, Wyo senators cheer

Article Rating

Reader Comments

There are 10 comment(s)

Comments to this story.

AJ wrote on Jun 26, 2008 1:53 PM:

" To Mel,
If the family and friends read these comments, I am sure that they would find your's thoughtless and ignorant, like I did. Put yourself in their shoes and maybe you will recognize what a stupid comment that was. "

Cheyenne Native wrote on Jun 26, 2008 3:38 PM:

" Um . . . has anyone considered that he might be getting high with all the stinky hippies? Dee Duh Dee. "

Ignorant wrote on Jun 26, 2008 4:08 PM:

" To Mel... apperantly you are not a parent! It is an awful thing that this young man has gone missing instead of thoughtless comments.... Maybe... Just maybe this family could use a prayer....I my self will be praying for the family! "

K wrote on Jun 26, 2008 4:23 PM:

" We all hope he is found safe and sound. But Mel points out a fallacy that will happen around gatherings like this. Any story about anything that happens near the gathering will mention it, and even if the story doesn't go so far as to blame the Rainbows it still fosters the belief (true or not, i don't know) that crazy things happen around these people.

But to not mention that the gathering is close by to where they found the truck may be leaving out what could turn out to be a crucial detail. "

gb wrote on Jun 26, 2008 10:18 PM:

" As a very close friend of Garrett's I would like you all to know that your comments are rude and heartless, please do not bash on Garrett and his family, as you do not know us and have no idea what his friends, family, and the entire town are going through. We are all doing our best to handle the situation and bring Garrett home safe and sound....and to Cheyenne Native, we have considered all possibilities. "

Krm wrote on Jun 26, 2008 11:29 PM:

" As a family member of Garrett''s I thank gb for his comments. Garrett and his family are wonderful people. His Father and Mother love him dearly, as does the rest of his family. We all hope and pray that Garrett is found soon. I feel sorry for those of you who feel it necessary to make flippant, rude and cruel comments. It's quite obvious you are lacking intelligence and compassion. "

Jacob wrote on Jun 27, 2008 12:33 AM:

" I wonder if this is related to the fact that a sweetwater sherriff Rich Haskel, advised people NOT to pick up Rainbow family hitchhikers...

I thought the Rainbow Family were pacifists!? Eitherway,...I was driving around the state, and kept noticing all these hippies driving around in crappy old cars which stank so bad, I went over the speed limit to pass them....and get away from their god-awfull stench. Gosh, EVEN THEIR CARS emit smelly fumes!

Seriously though, there may be some unsavory characters involved in the Rainbow family... Make sure you keep "defensive tools" nearby while driving.

I hope they find that missing man....I hope the best for his family "

WyomingGal wrote on Jun 27, 2008 12:56 AM:

" Perhaps Mr. Bardin went to see if all the hoopla about the rainbows is on target or not, perhaps he just went camping. Either way, I do have, and will keep, him, his family, and his friends in my prayers and hope for his safe return. "

ch wrote on Jun 27, 2008 7:55 AM:

" To Garrett's family and friends, please know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of many people. Disregard any rude or dicouraging remarks made in these blogs. We are all praying for Garrett's safe return. "

profit wrote on Jun 30, 2008 8:26 AM:

" This guy's disappearance should not be a laughing matter and the CST should be chastised for trying to create a link between this man going missing and the Rainbow gathering. If the CST had a nose for news, they would make the connection with past abductions and murders of single men in the Pinedale, Jackson, Lander area. You guys have a serial killer over there and I wonder if he isn't posting some of the comments mocking the situation. I can't imagine why anyone would think this is funny. I hope Mr. Garrett is found alive and well. "

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.

Please note: We provide our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.