Account
Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
Richard
Clayton Smith
57
57
6'0 inches
227 lbs
White
Male
On a day in early October, 54-year-old Richard Smith of Moses Lake, Washington, set out for a fishing trip at the O'Sullivan "Potholes" Reservoir. His girlfriend saw him on October 3rd, before he left, in what would be the last time he was seen alive. When he failed to return and could not be reached, a search was initiated. His truck was soon located at Medicare Beach, an access point on the north shore of the reservoir. Inside the truck was one of the two boats he had brought, a kayak, but his 12-foot flat-bottom aluminum boat was gone. A lone set of drag marks leading down to the water from his truck, with no tracks leading back, indicated he had launched his boat. The search for the missing fisherman intensified, with the Grant County Sheriff's Office taking the lead. They utilized two airplanes, boats, and drones to cover a large area of the reservoir and its shoreline. A significant break in the search came when a man from Yakima discovered Smith's tackle box and a flotation device on the shore. Later, a baseball cap belonging to Smith was also found. It was known that Smith had recently had knee surgery, which impacted his mobility. Additionally, his cell phone was not sending any signals and was presumed to be dead. Despite these discoveries and the ongoing search efforts, Richard Smith and his boat remained missing. The search concluded with a sad discovery. Richard Smith's body was recovered from the O'Sullivan Reservoir. He was found approximately 100 yards from where his belongings had been located. The Grant County Sheriff's Office indicated there was no evidence of foul play and that it appeared to be a tragic accident. It is speculated that due to his limited mobility from the recent knee surgery, he may have fallen into the reservoir and drowned. The Grant County Coroner's Office was to perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. The case of Richard Smith is a somber reminder of how a day of recreation can turn into a tragedy, leaving a void in the lives of family and friends.
Mar 13, 2002
Pacific County
Washington
Pacific County
Pacific County Sheriff's Office
06/27/2026
