Newport, OR – A 60-year-old Newport man, Jack David Baird, has been charged in connection with the 2022 disappearance of Ryan Staggs, a 30-year-old car dealer from Lincoln County. Baird, who was arrested on December 27, 2025, faces charges of second-degree abuse of a corpse, nearly three years after Staggs went missing.

Staggs vanished in January 2022, shortly after suffering a gunshot wound to the head while lying in bed at his home. Despite efforts by authorities, no suspect was identified in the shooting. At the time of his disappearance, Staggs was still recovering from the earlier injury, leaving the circumstances surrounding both events shrouded in mystery.

Court documents released in December 2025 suggest that Baird, along with another man who had been involved in the operation of Staggs’ car dealership, were allegedly seen with a dead body in a Toledo shop by a witness. This information was reported to law enforcement and subsequently led to further investigation. According to the documents, Baird rented a backhoe the day after Staggs’ disappearance, which was allegedly used to dig up the backyard of his rental home.

The case took another twist on Christmas Eve, when another witness came forward, claiming to have knowledge of the crime. The witness stated that Baird had killed Staggs and buried him in his backyard using the rented backhoe. On December 27, a search warrant was executed at Baird’s property. Authorities used heavy machinery and cadaver dogs to comb through the backyard, searching for evidence related to Staggs’ disappearance.

The search was confirmed by a homeowner who stated she had paid for the backhoe rental, which Baird had used in connection with plumbing repairs under the house, accompanied by two other men.

Baird was arrested later that day and is currently being held on $500,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 7, 2025. As the investigation continues, authorities are piecing together more details about Staggs’ disappearance, with the hope of bringing closure to the family and the community.