PORT TOWNSEND – A soldier from Joint Base Lewis McChord, thought to be missing and launching a multi-agency search in the Port Townsend area, has been arrested along with a co-conspirator after law enforcement uncovered a scheme to fake the soldier’s death.

19-year-old Devin Schmidt was located after an investigation concluded that he was not missing, but was instead hiding. He is now in military police custody and considered AWOL.

His friend and co-conspirator, 20-year-old Ryen Bell, was helping Schmidt fake his disappearance. Bell was booked into Jefferson County Jail Thursday night for obstructing a law enforcement officer, perjury and false reporting.

Schmidt had allegedly distributed a video message about being suicidal, and his personal belongings were discovered at Fort Worden in Port Townsend. Multiple local, state and federal agencies and search and rescue volunteers searched the rugged Artillery Hill section of Fort Worden and the shoreline Thursday for signs of Schmidt.
He was later found in Port Townsend at a location he had pre-determined with Bell. When he got there, police were waiting.

Photo: Devin Schmidt