SULTAN — A Sultan man has been missing since May 24, when he was last seen jumping into the Skykomish River to get away from police.
The Snohomish County sheriff’s major crimes detectives have opened a missing person investigation, spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.
Brandon “Bubba” Perecz, 28, “was last seen by deputies a few feet from the shore of the river, several hundred yards downstream still swimming,” Ireton said. “Perecz has evaded law enforcement at least three times prior to this by swimming out into the river.”
Perecz’ family filed a missing person report May 27. They also have been organizing search parties, and more volunteers are needed, said his fiance, Michaela Anderson. She has been walking along the river every day looking for him, she said.
In addition, the sheriff’s helicopter team, search-and-rescue crews and the dive unit all have tried to locate Perecz, Ireton said. The helicopter team flew over the river at least three times in recent weeks, Ireton said.
The family says they were not informed of Perecz’s encounter with the deputy until days after they reported him missing. They also say they are hoping for answers about when exactly police began conducting a thorough search of the river.
Perecz’s third child, a boy, was born the day after he disappeared. Anderson, the baby’s mother, said Perecz had planned to turn himself in after the birth.
“He wanted more than anything to see his son be born,” she said. “He loved music and nature and showing people that. He didn’t want people to grow up like he grew up. He would tell people there’s another life than this.”
Perecz grew up in Marysville, moved to east county as a teen and worked construction, she said. It is extremely out of character for him not to have contact with family or friends, she said. It was her hope that he would resolve his current court cases and work toward getting himself on the right path.
“He wanted a new start,” she said. “He wanted more than his past life.”
Perecz has eight felony convictions going back to 2006. The convictions include multiple offenses involving stolen cars as well as a case of methamphetamine possession.
Perecz also is set to go to trial later this year on a pending burglary charge from 2015, court records show. His next hearing is scheduled for July 1. In that case, he is accused of stealing wallets, checks and credit cards from a home in Snohomish.
Perecz spent time in prison from 2011 to 2012 and again from 2013 to 2015, according to the state Department of Corrections.
He failed to report to his community supervision officer in March, and a warrant was issued.
The afternoon of May 24, Perecz also was wanted in connection with another burglary, Ireton said.
“He rode his bicycle under the bridge at the confluence of the Sultan River and out to the edge of the Skykomish River,” Ireton said. “He took off his helmet, dropped his bicycle, and jumped into the river to evade capture.”
The Skykomish River downstream from Sultan is especially dangerous this season due to a large amount of logs and other debris in the water from a series of winter floods. In addition, the water runs about 50 degrees this time of year, even on hot days.
Nine kayakers were rescued from that part of river in May after mishaps, according to police.
Perecz is described as white with hazel eyes and brown hair. He is about 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds.
He was last seen wearing a blue Nike sweatshirt, jeans and white tennis shoes. He may have been wearing orange sunglasses, according to a flier being distributed by his family.
Anyone with information is asked to call 425-407-3999.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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