Ex-commissioner's ATV found; search revived

Coconino County sheriff’s deputies plan to begin a new search Wednesday  for Mark Irby, the missing Chandler Planning and Zoning Commission member, after two hunters discovered Irby’s abandoned all-terrain vehicle in a heavily wooded area north of Forest Lakes late Saturday.

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Jim Driscoll, chief deputy for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, told the Tribune this week that two hunters from Snowflake discovered the ATV on an unmarked road about 12 miles north of Forest Lakes, where Irby owns a vacation home.

Repeated searches haven’t turned up the 51-year-old Irby, who was last seen Jan. 2, when he left his cabin in Forest Lakes for a ride on his red Bombardier ATV.

The discovery of Irby’s ATV came two days after Irby’s post was replaced on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Former Chandler City Councilman Kevin Hartke was appointed to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday to finish out Irby’s term, which expires May 1. Irby had been serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission since May 2002.

Authorities confirmed the ATV belonged to Irby from its license plate number, and the ATV appeared to have been sitting for a period of time in an area near Chevelon Canyon Lake that had not been previously searched after Irby was reported missing, according to authorities.

“The vehicle was intact,” Driscoll said. “The men had been hunting for several days when they discovered it. It was about a mile off of a main road. It appeared to have been sitting there, and its tires were clean. It wasn’t dirty as if it had been running on the road.”

Driscoll described the area where the hunters discovered the ATV as very thick and heavily wooded and just became accessible to hikers or hunters after the snow had melted away and the mud had dried, Driscoll said.

Driscoll also said that the two hunters knew the ATV could belong to Irby because they were aware of media reports on his disappearance.

Forest Lakes is in a mountainous, pine forest area about 7,000 feet elevation east of Payson.

The ATV is being analyzed for DNA evidence, Driscoll said.

“We’re processing the area as a crime scene in the event we discover later on there was foul play,” Driscoll said.

A $5,000 reward has been established for information leading to the recovery of both Irby and his ATV. Additionally, donations to the search effort can be made to the Jim Irby Search Fund at Wells Fargo bank, which has been created by Mark’s brother, Jim.

Irby is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, 175 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and wears glasses. He was wearing a denim shirt, Levi’s jeans and Croc shoes when he went missing. He was not prepared for an overnight excursion, Coconino sheriff’s officials have said. Irby also did not have his blood pressure medication with him.