Update Friday:

Divers with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office on Friday were assisting Salem police and other agencies in the search for a 25-year-old Salem woman and her 3-year-old son, according to the sheriff's office. It wasn't immediately clear where they were searching.

Original story:

Police are looking for a 52-year-old man in connection with the disappearance of a 25-year-old Salem woman and her 3-year-old son.

Michael John Wolfe, 52 of Gaston, is wanted for questioning by the Salem Police Department and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

He's described as a white male, 6’ 2” tall, 200 pounds with thinning brown hair and hazel eyes.

Karissa Fretwell and her son, William, were last seen May 13 and reported missing May 17 by family members after Fretwell did not show up for work.

According to a Polk County court judgment, a DNA test established that Wolfe is the biological father of William. Fretwell filed a petition in 2018 to establish paternity of William and has full custody.

At least four law enforcement agencies searched two rural properties in Yamhill County on Thursday in connection with their disappearance

Salem Police, Yamhill County Sheriffs, Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched a home near Gaston and a field on Hopewell Road northwest of Salem just across the Polk County line, said Lt. Treven Upkes of Salem Police.

They began searching the properties early Thursday morning.

Investigators are asking for the public's help locating Wolfe. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Salem Police Department Tips Hotline at 503-588-8477.

Police described Wolfe as a "person of interest."

The search in Hopewell includes a field about 1/4-mile in radius, Upkes said.

In Gaston, the search was on a property on NW Phillips Road. Court records list Wolfe's address as being on 2700 NW Phillips Road.

Upkes declined to say what clues lead investigators to the properties. He also would not say how the properties were connected in the investigation.

Authorities are searching the property in hopes of locating Karissa and William, or discovering evidence which may lead to their location, according to a press release from the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.

Previously:Salem Police searching for missing mother and three-year-old son

The search is being conducted by about 25 law enforcement officials and trained volunteers. No additional searchers are needed.

Neighbor Randy Ruggles said Wolfe and his family have lived at the estimated 10-acre property for about eight years.

"This was a big shocker to us," Ruggles said. "It's just scary."

Law enforcement officials from the FBI and Salem Police have been at Wolfe's house since Sunday, he added.

Ruggles said never met Wolfe and the last time he saw him was months ago.

"We don't mingle," he said of his neighbors on NW Phillips Road. "Everyone works and keeps to themselves."

Karissa is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 135 pounds. She has blue eyes and naturally blond hair that she dyes red.

William is a white male, approximately 3 feet tall, and weighs approximately 30 pounds. He has blond hair and blue eyes.

Fretwell's friend Megan Harper, of McMinnville, said she was supposed to watch William on May 17, but never heard from Fretwell. The last time they spoke was May 11 when Fretwell asked Harper about installing Ring, a security camera system.

"I feel ill with worry about William," Harper said.

Harper described Fretwell as "shy and awkward" when they first met in a sociology class at Chemeketa Community College.

Fretwell formerly worked as a delivery driver at Jimmy John's and security guard at Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in McMinnville, Harper said. Wolfe's Facebook page lists him as working as a supervisor at Cascade Steel Rolling Mills.

Harper said Fretwell is now studying education at Western Oregon University and working as an overnight security guard while living in West Salem.

"She has a strong work ethic," Harper said."She'd never miss work."

Statesman Journal reporters Whitney Woodworth and Jonathan Bach contributed to this story.

Virginia Barreda can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com

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