Deputies located 69-year-old Dennis Hiser on Monday morning on the rural property where he was last seen.
GUTHRIE, OK — The Logan County Sheriff’s Office said Monday morning that Dennis Hiser, 69, the subject of a Silver Alert issued late last week, was found dead around 10 a.m. on the same property in rural Logan County where he was reported missing on Dec. 11.
The discovery capped four days of searching that began after Hiser did not return from an outing at a friend’s property, where relatives said he planned to practice at an informal shooting area. The Sheriff’s Office publicly thanked multiple agencies for their work but did not release a cause or manner of death. Family members said investigators told them they did not suspect foul play at this time, while official determinations will come from the medical examiner. The case is now moving from active search to death investigation, with attention on the timeline between Hiser’s last known contact and when deputies located his body.
Hiser was last seen Thursday, Dec. 11, on private land in Logan County, according to relatives. A Silver Alert was issued Friday as deputies, volunteers and other agencies began a coordinated grid search of the area. Family members said Hiser had driven to the property with friends and was expected home that evening. “He told me he was going to go shoot at the shooting range at his friend’s property,” his wife, Pamela Hiser, said in an interview. When he did not return, calls to his phone went unanswered and the Sheriff’s Office opened a missing person case. Search teams focused on pastures, tree lines and trails radiating from the site as weather and daylight allowed through the weekend.
On Monday at about 10 a.m., deputies located Hiser’s body on the same property, the Sheriff’s Office said. Officials did not publicly identify the exact location, citing the ongoing investigation and the privacy of the landowner. Pamela Hiser said deputies found her husband “on the property,” adding that he was discovered in heavy brush. She said investigators told her early findings did not point to foul play; however, authorities have not released an official ruling. The Sheriff’s Office also did not immediately detail what evidence, if any, was recovered at the scene, and referred questions about cause of death to the medical examiner. Family members said Hiser’s phone had been recovered near the start of the search, separate from where he was later found, and that they were awaiting more answers about the hours after he arrived at the property.
Records show Silver Alerts in Oklahoma are typically issued when adults with cognitive impairments or other risk factors are missing and believed to be in danger. In this case, the alert went out Friday after deputies concluded Hiser could be at risk. The Sheriff’s Office thanked partner agencies that assisted with ground and air searches over the weekend. Family members said two friends were with Hiser when they arrived at the property on Dec. 11 and later tried to reach him by phone when they became separated. According to the family, call logs show repeated attempts that afternoon, though it remains unclear when authorities were first notified and how far Hiser may have traveled on foot. Investigators have not released maps of the search area or the precise distance between where his phone was recovered and where his body was found.
Hiser’s death follows other recent search-and-recovery cases in rural parts of the state, where large properties, dense vegetation and limited cell coverage can complicate missing person investigations. Logan County stretches north of Oklahoma City and includes a mix of farm and pastureland crossed by creeks and unpaved roads. Search teams often rely on property owners for access and on air support to scan draws and thickets that are difficult to reach on foot. In past cases, medical examiner reports have taken days to weeks to finalize, underscoring why officials typically avoid early conclusions about a cause of death. Family members said Hiser was active and known to ride his motorcycle, and they disputed suggestions that he had a diagnosed cognitive condition.
Procedurally, the Sheriff’s Office will submit scene findings and witness statements to the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which will determine cause and manner of death. If additional forensic testing is needed, a final report could follow preliminary findings at a later date. Deputies can also forward elements of the case to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation if questions arise about criminal conduct; as of Monday afternoon, authorities had not announced any arrests or criminal allegations. Officials had not scheduled a news conference, and no court filings were listed in connection with the case. Funeral arrangements will be set by the family after the medical examiner releases Hiser’s body.
At the family home, relatives described a weekend of waiting by the phone as searchers worked the property. “When I kissed him as he left, I had no idea it would be the last time,” Pamela Hiser said. She said one friend reported making dozens of calls that afternoon when he could not find Hiser on the property. Other relatives expressed gratitude for volunteers and deputies who searched through fields and thick brush. Neighbors dropped off food and offered to walk fence lines. By Monday midday, word began to spread that deputies had made the discovery, and family members asked for privacy as they processed the news.
As of late Monday, officials had not released the location on the property where Hiser was found or what led searchers to that spot. The Sheriff’s Office said more information would be provided after the medical examiner’s review. A final report, including any toxicology results, typically takes additional time. The next formal update is expected when the medical examiner issues preliminary findings or when the Sheriff’s Office releases a supplemental statement later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 23, 2025.