The disappearance of Patrick Combs

WORLAND – "If you find me alone leave me alone, if you find me dead call ... [telephone number ]"

It's unclear why Patrick Michael Combs of Inkom, Idaho, would have such a cryptic message tattooed on his body.

An Air Force veteran and beekeeper born on Sept. 21, 1977, and the owner of Mountain Sweeties Apiary with wife Calynn, Combs was last seen in Inkom on Oct. 22, 2015. Driving a 2003 white Mazda pickup with a camper shell, and wearing work clothes and boots, no one knows what became of Combs after that day.

On May 25, Combs' truck was found abandoned, in a ditch along Blue Bank Road in Washakie County, Wyoming, halfway between Ten Sleep and Worland, 400 miles from Combs' last known location, and two years since his last appearance.

"It [Combs' truck] seems to have been out there for some time," noted Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness.

After the vehicle was discovered, Washakie County deputies ran the license plates and discovered that Combs was missing. After contacting Idaho investigating officers, deputies called the phone number reportedly tattooed on Combs' arm (listed as Mountain Sweeties Apiary) and informed Calynn Combs that her husband's vehicle had been found.

Combs' wife and sister subsequently travelled to Washakie County to retrieve Combs' missing property found in the vehicle.

After a 5-mile drone search of the area, which yielded no trace of Combs, Sheriff Rakness organized a field search of the area, scheduled for 4 p.m. today, comprised of volunteers, county law enforcement, and Washakie County Search and Rescue personnel. The group will meet at the entrance to Blue Bank Road, off Highway 16.

"We really have no indication why Combs would be in Wyoming," said Rakness, "but people are welcome to come out and take a walk with us, to see if we can find him."