Family Of Missing Sheridan Man More Desperate As Creek Search Turns Up No Clues

SHERIDAN — A volunteer search effort for a missing Sheridan man that included wading through a waist-deep creek yielded no clues as family and police continue to be baffled by what might have happened to him.

James “Bo” Galloway, 53, was last seen by family at his residence off Westview Drive on April 30 and hasn’t been heard from since.

Galloway left his vehicle in the driveway and his three dogs locked in the house with empty food and water bowls, which his friends and family say he would never have done under normal circumstances.

His cellphone with a smashed glass front and an empty nylon tent-pole bag were later recovered from a makeshift dugout in the hillside overlooking the Big Goose Creek that winds through the private property he was renting. 

Last weekend’s search was the second time the property had been scoured; the first was in June by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office.

The searches have included K-9 teams and cadaver dogs and covered about 600 acres of terrain between Galloway’s home and the Sheridan County Airport, where tipsters had reported seeing Galloway after he was reported missing.

Meanwhile, there are no new updates from the Sheridan Police Department, said Capt. Tom Ringley, who encourages the public to keep sharing any tips or information pertaining to Galloway’s disappearance.

“We’ll continue to run down any new leads or information,” he said, confirming it’s still an active investigation.

Trudging Through Water

Galloway’s stepdaughter, Kiara Coen, trudged nearly 3 miles up and down the Big Goose Creek on July 19 in knee-deep chilly water looking for clues and dodging snakes.

With her was her sister, Madelyn Galloway, who both faced the grim task of potentially finding their father’s remains.

As they walked, they bounced off theories of what might have happened or who could potentially be involved in his disappearance. In the absence of truth or evidence, all they’ve got is “what ifs” and more questions.

Nothing about their father’s disappearance makes sense, including his ominous last conversation with his ex-wife, Jaime Banks, on April 27 in which he told her he feared his life was in danger and someone was out to harm him. 

They can’t help dreading the worst, because neither believes Galloway would have left or stayed gone this long without contacting them.

No Clues

Alongside the creek, more than a dozen volunteers combed through the thick brush and waist-high grass looking for any signs of Galloway or anything that might indicate he’d been there or something happened.

The search was organized by Stacy Koester, director and founder of WyoFind, a Gillette-based missing person nonprofit that does ground searches, outreach and investigations.

In the end, the group turned up only a few clues, none of which panned out, including a sports jersey that his daughter said didn’t belong to him. This is the way searches often go, Koester said, because ruling out territory is part of the process.

This is the first of likely many to come, she added, with the next involving drones as soon as she obtains the necessary permits from federal authorities.

“WyoFind is committed to the family of Bo Galloway and will continue our efforts to locate Bo and bring answers to his family,” Koester said. “As a missing person advocate, I feel there should be much more attention on Bo’s case.”

Disappointing, But Something

Coen, Madelyn and Banks were also disappointed by the lack of answers but nonetheless appreciated the volunteers showing up and supporting the family in their efforts to find Galloway.

All agreed it felt good to be part of the effort and they were grateful for the people — some friends, some strangers — who turned out to help.

“It was good but disheartening,” Coen said of the search. “We just want answers and to know what happened to him.”

Banks was also grateful for the support from the community.

“We were so touched by their kindness and to know people care,” she said.

Though divorced from Galloway, the two have remained close friends. She admitted it’s been hard on their family and Madelyn, who has been taking her father’s absence very hard, particularly when he failed to show up in late May to her high school graduation.

“It’s hard not being able to get Maddy answers,” Banks said. “It’s hard to see my baby have to experience this when she shouldn’t have to.”

She called Galloway a very generous, soft-hearted person.

 “I need him to be found,” she said. “I’m still hoping for the very best outcome.”

 Galloway is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs around 182 pounds with gray hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheridan Police Department at 307-672-2413. Anonymous tips can also be submitted on the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s website.

Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.