Citizen finds mtn. bike of Portland man who died near Pine Mountain

DCSO says he apparently parked car, went mtn. biking, died of exposure

(Update: Adding bike recovered, SAR finds no more evidence)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said a citizen found the mountain bike of a Portland man whose body was found by ATV riders east of Bend on Sunday, apparently having crashed and walked for some time, until he collapsed and died of exposure.

Deputies were dispatched around 12:30 p.m. Sunday to a report of a deceased man located by ATV riders about a mile north of Highway 20, near milepost 28, Lt. Chad Davis said.

Deputies arrived and began a death investigation, with detectives and a deputy medical examiner called in to assist, Davis said.

An investigation determined that John Eric Sims, 36, of Portland, had come to visit Central Oregon, and his destination was the Pine Mountain Observatory, the lieutenant said.

Sims drove to an area above the U.S. Forest Service campground at Pine Mountain and parked his 2008 Subaru Forester.

Davis said it’s believed that Sims left his vehicle, riding his mountain bike, and at some point became separated from the bike. He apparently walked until he collapsed at the spot where the ATV riders found him.

“Based upon the condition of Sims’ body, it appeared he died due to exposure to the elements,” Davis wrote in a news release. “It was also determined his body had been at the location for several days."

“There was no evidence of foul play,” Davis said, adding that Sims’ family has been notified of his passing.

After the sheriff's office released details of the man's death on Tuesday, a citizen contacted the agency to report having found a red mountain bike that matched the description of Sim's bike.

Detectives went to the area east of the Millican OHV play area, where the bike was located near Trail No. 20, less than a mile west of where Sims' body was found, Davis said. The bike had sustained some damage, possibly from a crash, he added.

On Wednesday, 21 Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers and two deputies went to the scene and conducted a grid search for any more evidence between the bike and Sims' location, but found one, Davis said.

Sims' family last spoke to him last Thursday, June 4, when he left on his trip alone, Davis told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday.

"It is unknown when he actually arrived at Pine Mountain or when he left on his bike," the detective said. "We are still trying to determine a better timeline, to clear up some of those details."

Davis also said a cellphone was located in Sims' SUV, but he had none on his person when he was found.

He said they spoke to friends of Sims, who said he had a red mountain bike when he left and that his vehicle had the capability to carry a bike inside.