Custer County Sheriff-Idaho

10/14/2026

10/11/2026

2026 Crane Press Release

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Idaho State Police and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), is issuing a renewed plea to the public for any information regarding the disappearance of Stephanie Lyn Crane, who vanished from Challis, Idaho on October 11, 1993. Stephanie was nine years old at the time of her disappearance and would be 42 years old today.

It was reported that Stephanie was last seen at approximately 6:00 P.M. walking towards the Challis High School from the Challis Lanes Bowling Alley.

In 1993, people learned about missing children primarily through television and radio news broadcasts, newspaper flyers, and physical notices printed on everyday consumer items like milk cartons and grocery bags.

People learned of Stephanie’s disappearance, from local news, radio, word of mouth, printed flyers and printed media. The Custer County Sheriffs Office notified other Sheriffs Office’s and Police Departments through National Crime Information Center. As it was the second day of general deer season (opening day was October 10, 1993) The hunters that were in town were mostly notified by word of mouth and printed fliers.

There really was no crime scene to be processed. Stephanie had been reported missing by her mother and the only information that Sheriff’s Office had to go on at the time, was a report of a small yellow pick up that was parked at the Challis High School.

Many people have been interviewed over the years and many if not all of them have been polygraphed. The family was extensively interviewed and polygraphed. Stephanie’s uncle, Bob Crane, who was a person of interest when she first disappeared, was cleared of any involvement as it was proven that he was in another state when she went missing.

Investigative agencies continue to treat this as an active, open missing person case and are highly interested in any information regarding a small, late-model yellow pickup truck that was spotted in the area at the time she vanished.

10/10/2026

On October 9. 2026 Sheiff Maydole organized Stanley Search and Rescue for response to an injured hiker at Elephant's Perch. SAR teams brought the individual down the mountain. Redfish Lake Lodge provided a boat to shuttle the SAR crews across the lake and then again to bring the crews and patient back where they delivered the patient to the Sandy Beach Boat Launch for Air St. Luke's. Rescue efforts were also provided by Sawtooth Mountain Guides who were already in the area and met up with Stanely SAR on the trail.
Later in the day, SAR coordinator Lincoln Zollinger requested assistance of the Idaho National Guard to hoist 2 persons from the Alpine Lake area near Goat Lake and delivered them to the Stanley Airport where Stanley Ambulance evaluated the individuals.

10/09/2026

On October 8 , 2026 around 8 pm, Custer County received a call for a party of three individuals that where in a tough spot. One individual had slid down the rock about 50 feet a small tree saved him from going over the edge of a 200 foot cliff. With the extraordinary work of the Idaho National Guard and extremely talented pilots and the hoist operators of Talon 96, the individual was able to be rescued.
We like to thank the group of individuals for staying calm in an extremely stressful situation and environment in the far reaches of Custer County.
Help is always coming. It may take some time to get there safely with all of our volunteers and equipment.

10/05/2026

**Update. Found safe***
Lost dog at Smiley Creek at noon today. She is a vizla 5 yrs old and responds to “Lady Bird”. Please call the Sheriff’s Office if located.

10/01/2026

Overall calls to service 174
Notably:
Accidents (walk in and investigated) 20
Animal Related Calls (Domestic, Livestock, Fish and Game Assist) 21
Assault and Battery Related Calls 2
Theft Related Calls 3
Coroner/Death Related Calls 1
Domestic Calls (Assault/Disturbance) 3
Missing or Overdue Person Calls 9
Public Assist Calls (motorist assist, Message delivery, VIN inspection, Other Public Assist) 47
Search and Rescue Operation Calls 19
Traffic Related Calls 7
City Ordinance Calls 2
Juvenile Citations 1
Adult Citations 14
Juvenile Related Calls 2
Reports of Threats 1
Reports of Fraud 1
DUI Related Calls 4
Comm Center received over 28 calls for Ambulance Requests (Medical and Injured Persons)
Comm Center received over 5 calls for Fire (Brush, Forest, Fire Alarm or Structure)
Arrests:
Felony Arrests 1
Misdemeanor Arrests 4

09/30/2026

During the month of September, our office has responded to 19 reports of overdue, injured and missing persons.

Custer County Search and Rescue Coordinator Lincoln Zollinger would like to give a special thanks to:
Idaho National Guard
Montana National Guard DET1 COC1-189th GSBA Dust off 771
Air St. Luke's
Air Idaho Rescue
Life Flight Network
Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue Unit
Civil Air Patrol
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)
Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG)
Custer County Search and Rescue Challis, Mackay and Stanley Units
Custer County Dispatchers (Without them 'we would all be lost')
Salmon Search & Rescue
Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office
U.S. Forest Service-Sawtooth National Forest
Stanley Ambulance
Multiple Custer County Citizens

Without the help and support of all of these Agencies and the citizens of Custer County, our job would be far more difficult, if not impossible.

09/30/2026

We are back up!
Driver's Services is currently experiencing Technical Difficulties

09/27/2026

***Update, Located and Safe!***

Missing horse.
Last seen at the Sagebrush trail up the East Fork.
Female Bay Roan 9 years old.
Approximately 15 1/2 hands tall.
Had a saddle with blaze orange saddle bags on her, and a brass breast collar with a heart on it.
White marking on her forehead.
If you see her, please contact our office.

09/24/2026

**Update**

At 12:20pm today Air Idaho Rescue located a Polaris UTV matching the description of the vehicle belonging to Kelly King. The vehicle was off of the trail on a hillside amongst sagebrush. Ground crew from Custer County Search and Rescue accessed the vehicle and found a deceased male who was later identified as Kelly King.

We appreciate the dedicated work of Custer County Search and Rescue, Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue Unit, Civil Air Patrol, Idaho National Guard, Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG), Salmon Search & Rescue, Air Idaho Rescue, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and the numerous members of the public who assisted us in the search.

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Mr. King.