MENDOCINO CO., 5/10/25 – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and a local family are asking for help in locating a missing man who was last seen near Covelo.
Manuel Alvarado, 44, was last seen at a cannabis grow near Covelo on July 22, 2024. He was reported missing that day. Alvarado is a Hispanic male with black hair. He stands around five feet, nine inches tall and weighs approximately 210 pounds. He has a muscular build and tattoos on both arms.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Alvarado texted his mother on July 22 telling her that he loved her and was going to die. He asked her to send help.
That evening, sheriff’s deputies with assistance from the California Highway Patrol tried to locate Alvarado using GPS coordinates from his cell phone. The coordinates reported him 19 miles east of Covelo, south of Mendocino Pass Road at Jumpoff Creek in Mendocino National Forest.
Officers worked in the dark to locate Alvarado. They pinged his cell phone, which did not respond due to having a drained battery, being turned off or out of its service area.
The next day, July 23, CHP flew a helicopter over the area but were unable to locate Alvarado.
On July 24, the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and CHP continued the search, which led them to a cannabis grow in the area.
Individuals at the grow told deputies they last saw Alvarado on July 22. He was using methamphetamine and acting paranoid. They said he took a walk and never returned and that they searched for him to no available, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were given permission to search the property and found no signs of foul play. The search continued from ground and air with no luck.
The Sheriff’s Office reported in August that the search and rescue efforts would continue. However, no further updates have been provided.
Anyone with information regarding Alvarado’s whereabouts or who has information helpful for this investigation should call 911 or the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 463-4086 (option 1).