Search continues for missing Soap Lake man

Man was active for his age, but odds dimming that he's still alive

The search for a missing Soap Lake man continues, though authorities are unsure whether they are looking for someone who is still alive.

Eleven members of the Grant County sheriff's posse searched the Willow Lakes area from Road 16 to Road 20 along Stratford Road this Saturday searching for 79-year-old Michael Mallon, who was reported missing last Wednesday, Grant County Chief Deputy John Dazell said.

"We'd like to have an individual (who is alive), but it's been awhile," Dazell said.

Mallon was last seen in Soap Lake on March 26 or 27, according to a sheriff's office news release.

Sheriff's deputies had arrested Dustin Abrams, 20, Moses Lake, on charges that he had broken into Mallon's home and stolen guns on Wednesday.

Abrams is currently incarcerated in the Grant County Jail on $250,000 bail and is accused of residential burglary, though he denies committing the crime, Dazell said.

Sheriff's deputies are assuming Mallon went for a walk and befell an accident, Dazell said. However, if Mallon is declared dead, deputies would investigate the death as though it were a homicide, Dazell said.

The chances of Mallon's still being alive shrink because of his age, but Dazell added that he is an active man. According to interviews with family, Mallon began running marathons at the age of 60, is involved with the American Legion and is a "survivalist, Dazell said

"Going for a 10-mile walk wasn't unusual for him," Dazell said.

Mallon and Abrams were "acquaintances," according to Dazell, and the younger man had been to Mallon's house to borrow scrap metal before.

"There wasn't any animosity between them," Dazell said.

There was no indication of violence in Mallon's home, Dazell said. The door was kicked open to gain entry, he said.

For now, sheriff's deputies will regroup and try to figure out the next place to search, Dazell said. The area where Mallon could have possibly gone walking has already been searched, he said.

If anyone has information on Mallon's whereabouts, Dazell encouraged those individuals to contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office at 754-2011.