Missing man found OK: 'We never gave up, he never gave up'
By Laura Rillos KVAL NewsSPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Christine Kellis bolted off her front step when she spotted the white pickup truck Thursday night. Riding inside was her husband, James Kellis, on his way home after being lost in the woods for four days.
"Jimmy's back!" Christine Kellis cried, throwing her arms around her husband of nine years. Wide smiles spread across their faces as Christine's daughter joined the embrace. Looking on, with weary smiles, were his parents. They wanted nothing but to bring James home safe. "It's just been a constant, nonstop struggle for four days," said Richard Kellis. "Emotions have been so hard to deal with. But we never gave up, he never gave up." According to the Lane County Sheriff's Office, the 36-year-old man took an LTD Bus from Springfield to the Blue River area. He was last seen at 4 p.m. that day, when he requested a drink of water at the Holiday Farm Resort. The Kellis family, along with Lane County Sheriff's deputies, volunteers and friends, combed the Blue River area for signs of James the missing man, who is developmentally disabled. He takes seizure medication and family members were concerned he was not getting the medication. Richard Kellis said his son took a wrong turn in the woods, then followed the river the wrong way. He survived on "little leaves and other stuff and water," said James Kellis. The crew ended their weary search Thursday afternoon, "11 miles later, ten-thousand-million acres," an exhausted Richard Kellis said. "Somebody yelled one more time, 'Jim!' and he went, 'I'm here.'" "It was good, to be alive," said James Kellis, who celebrates his birthday Sunday.
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