Oregon woman last seen in Ephrata still missing

by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer | July 9, 2021 1:00 AM

EPHRATA — Police officers throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana are asking people to help them find a missing Prineville, Oregon, woman.

Betty Counts, 83, was last seen in Ephrata at about 1 a.m. July 4. There was a phone contact near Moscow, Idaho, later that day, but there has been no contact since.

Counts left her home in Prineville July 3 with her dog after a minor argument with a family member, according to a press release from the Prineville Police Department (PPD). Her husband reported her missing July 4.

She was driving a white Infiniti EX3 with Oregon license plate 873MNT.

Counts’ husband spoke to her after he reported her missing, and at that time she said she was in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at some point and had gotten lost while trying to return home. He urged her to call 911, but she didn’t think she needed help, the report said.

PPD Sgt. Shane Wilson said as of 4 p.m. Thursday, that July 4 phone call was the last contact with Counts.

“She’s still actively missing at this point,” Wilson said.

Counts talked to Ephrata Police Department officers at about 1 a.m. July 4.

“It was reported to (EPD) that she was in a white Fusion, later confirmed as her Infiniti, in the U.S. Bank parking lot and she was lost,” the report said. “She claimed she was trying to get home, but didn’t know her address. Betty was offered a room to stay in for the night, but she refused and just wanted to know how to get to I-90. Officers reported she left the area, headed south out of Ephrata.”

Wilson said there were multiple reports of a possible sighting since the missing person notice was issued.

“But no reports are Betty,” he said.

Counts is described as 5-foot-6-inches tall, with gray hair and about 165 pounds. She was traveling with her dog, Max, a white Lhasa Apso. She hasn’t been diagnosed with dementia and isn’t taking medication, but she may have early symptoms of dementia.

People who think they may have seen Counts can contact the Prineville Police Department at 541-447-4168.