Santa Rosa attorney Steve Mitchell still missing

Prominent Santa Rosa attorney Steve Mitchell remained missing Wednesday, four days after he was last seen by his family, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The case remained an active investigation for a missing person, Sheriff’s Sgt. Cecile Focha said. State park employees, deputies and the sheriff’s helicopter crew have continued to conduct periodic checks along the coast.

Mitchell, 56, left his east Santa Rosa home Saturday morning about 9 a.m., telling his family he had errands, and when he hadn’t returned or checked in by Saturday night, his wife contacted the Sheriff’s Office to say he was missing.

It appeared Mitchell was last known to be at the Sonoma Coast.

His cellphone was last used in the Bodega Bay area, his wife told sheriff’s officials. And Sunday morning, Mitchell’s car was found parked above Furlong Gulch Beach. Within a few hours, his clothing and cellphone were found at or near the beach.

On Wednesday, the family declined to comment through Mitchell’s brother, Eureka attorney William Mitchell. Partners at Steve Mitchell’s law firm, Geary, Shea, O’Donnell, Grattan and Mitchell, also declined to make a statement. Mitchell has worked at the firm since 1989.

News that the man remained missing Wednesday shocked and concerned the legal community and beyond. His disappearance was the source of continued speculation, including whether he committed suicide.

“I think we’re all waiting with bated breath,” said Chris Andrian, a Santa Rosa criminal attorney and decades-long friend. “He is a wonderful, decent guy and a great lawyer. We’re all hoping for a miracle but certainly it is unnerving. We’re all shaking our heads.”

Mitchell is a civil attorney who specializes in representing local government and law enforcement agencies. He is defending Sonoma County in a high-profile wrongful death suit filed by the parents of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, who was shot dead by a sheriff’s deputy in 2013 while carrying an airsoft gun resembling an AK-47 assault rifle.

Sonoma County Counsel Bruce Goldstein praised Mitchell’s work and expressed great concern for his friend.

“He’s touched so many people in a positive way,” Goldstein said. “It’s just really sad.”

Focha declined to release additional information about the search for Mitchell, including whether he had left a note.

“It’s an open and ongoing investigation and we’re not releasing any further details,” she said.

While there wasn’t an active search on Wednesday for Mitchell, coast workers continued to look for the missing man. There was no new information as of Wednesday evening.

“We absolutely are. We aren’t actively searching but everybody, the lifeguards, the rangers, we’re all aware of the situation” and watching that area, said Jeremy Stinson, supervising park ranger on the Sonoma Coast.

On Saturday, before Mitchell was reported missing, state coast workers heard from a visitor to Furlong Gulch Beach that someone’s clothing and personal items had been spotted.

“We had a report on Saturday that clothing and personal items were on the beach,” Stinson said. A parks officer went to the area and searched but didn’t find anything.

Sunday morning, when a coast ranger started his shift, he learned of a law enforcement alert issued for a missing man and his 2005 Acura and he quickly located the vehicle, Stinson said.

The car was parked on Carlevaro Way, above Furlong Gulch Beach, a few miles south of Jenner.

That finding launched a search by several people including state parks employees, deputies, the sheriff’s volunteer search and rescue team and the sheriff’s helicopter.

The coast was busy Saturday and Sunday, as many people took advantage of the sunny holiday weekend, filling up beach parking lots from one end of the county to the other.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @paulpayne. You can reach staff writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.