SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Search and rescue teams, aviation units, and major crimes investigators are asking for the public's help to locate an 80-year-old military veteran who went missing under concerning circumstances in unincorporated Simi Valley, law enforcement officials announced.
The active missing person inquiry is being led by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau alongside the Moorpark Investigations Unit and Moorpark Patrol Services.
According to an official agency notification issued by the Sheriff's Office, the missing man has been identified as 80-year-old Harold Lynn Murray, a resident of Ventura County.
Suspicious Vehicle Recovery and Multi-Agency Search Operations
The investigation began on Friday, August 28, 2026, when patrol deputies from the Moorpark Police Station responded to the 4600 block of Tapo Canyon Road to assist the California Highway Patrol regarding a reported suspicious vehicle.
Deputies checked the vehicle registration and identified it as belonging to Harold Murray. Major Crimes Bureau detectives took over the investigation and determined that Murray was last seen leaving his home on August 20, 2026. Evidence collected at the scene indicates Murray traveled to the Tapo Canyon Road area shortly after his disappearance.
Following the vehicle discovery, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deployed its Search and Rescue (SAR) team alongside the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit. Specialized search personnel conducted thorough grid searches across the surrounding terrain, while aircrews utilized aerial surveillance equipment to scan steep hillsides and dirt trails around upper Tapo Canyon.
Despite intensive ground and air search efforts, search teams have been unable to locate Murray or determine his direction of travel.
"On August 28, 2026, patrol deputies with the Moorpark Police Station responded to the area of the 4600 block of Tapo Canyon Road to assist the California Highway Patrol reference a suspicious vehicle and a possible missing person," the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detailed in its official advisory prepared by Sergeant Craig Hennes.
"The missing person was identified as 80-year-old Harold Murray of Simi Valley... The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit and Search and Rescue conducted a thorough search of the area to locate Harold Murray. Those efforts have been unsuccessful," sheriff's officials added.
Medical Concerns, Vulnerability Factors, and How the Public Can Help
Detectives emphasized that Harold Murray is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who suffers from several ongoing medical issues. Additionally, Murray has been previously diagnosed with mental health conditions, raising significant concern for his safety and well-being given his age and the remote outdoor environment where his car was located.
Because several days passed between when Murray was last seen on August 20 and when his vehicle was discovered on August 28, search coordinators emphasize that time is a critical factor. High daytime temperatures along the hilly terrain of upper Tapo Canyon create severe risks of heat exhaustion, severe dehydration, and physical disorientation for an elderly individual without proper shelter or water.
Sheriff's officials encourage community members who live or work near the search area to remain extra vigilant. Residents along northern Simi Valley, ranch managers, and industrial site operators are asked to inspect secondary structures, storage sheds, outbuildings, and unlocked vehicles where a disoriented person might seek shade or shelter.
Members of the community, rural landowners, and outdoor recreationists near upper Tapo Canyon, Gillibrand Quarry, and surrounding dirt fire roads are urged to check their properties, outbuildings, and trail cameras for any signs of Murray or recent human activity.
Direct inquiries or tips can also be provided to lead Detective Erik Hernandez at (805) 384-4729 (email: Erik.hernandez@venturacounty.gov) or Detective Gerardo Cruz at (805) 384-4726 (email: Gerardo.cruz@venturacounty.gov). Official bulletins and missing person flyers are available via the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Nixle Portal and the official PDF flyer release.