Police continue search for missing area man

A local angler has gone missing and police and rescue agencies are continuing their search for him.

Medford Police Chief Chad Liske is asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Martevious Watts, 31, to contact the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 715-748-2200 ext. 5.

Items belonging to Martevious Watts, 31, were located by the Medford Millpond in the city park on Friday morning. Watts was last seen fishing in the park on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 10.

Police said his family has not talked with Watts since Thursday morning.

The search began in earnest on Friday morning when at about 8:10 a.m. the Medford Police Department received a call about suspicious circumstances near the Medford City Campgrounds on Centennial Parkway.

A camp chair, fishing pole, and shoes were located along the edge of the river, but no one was located near the immediate area. Offi cers made contact with nearby campers and it was reported that a male was seen fishing from the chair around 3 p.m. on Thursday. Due to the unknown circumstances of the unattended items located near the river and the inability to locate the owner of the items, Medford Police Department reached out to Wings of Hope for their assistance with searching the area. Wings of Hope assisted with drone flights of the area near and over the river. Further assistance was also provided by North Star Search and Rescue to assist with checking the river near the area.

At about 8 p.m. Friday night, search efforts of the water and nearby area were concluded and no one was located.

On Saturday, October 12, at about 9 a.m. the Medford Police Department returned to the Centennial Parkway area to continue search efforts in the area.

Liske said they were able to confirm the identity of the owner of the items located near the river edge as Watts.

Wings of Hope returned to assist with search efforts along with Wisconsin K9 S.O.S. Search and Rescue and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. Aerial, ground, and water searches were once again conducted throughout the day and concluded at about 7 p.m.

“At this time Martevious’s whereabouts are unknown. If you have seen or heard from Martevious since Thursday, October 10, 2024, please contact the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 715-748-2200 ext. 5,” Liske said.