Jeromy Ivan Childress went on an annual elk hunting trip with Shane Luey and Luey's young son, Shane Jr., in Tillamook County, Oregon on October 17, 2004. He was last seen at 4:30 p.m. that day at Tucca Creek Road and Boundary Road in the Tillamook National Forest.

Jeromy became separated from his companions in the forest after they became lost trying to find their way back to camp. He walked into the brush alone, saying he thought he could find the camp by himself. The Lueys eventually made it to the rendezvous point, but Childress never arrived. His overnight gear was left behind at camp. An extensive search turned up no clues as to his whereabouts. It is believed that Childress became lost or injured in the wilderness and died.

His wife obtained a death certificate for him in 2006 based on that theory.