Missing in Oregon

There are 21,084 missing person cases in the U.S. which are considered “open” by law enforcement. Among the 50 states, Oregon has the eighth-largest number of cases – either 432 or 484 depending on whom you ask, and the seven states with larger totals all have larger populations. Proportionally, Oregon ranks third: about one person in 10,000 in the state has gone missing.

Why would so many people go missing in Oregon? There are a few reasons. One is that in spite of how densely populated the lower Willamette Valley has become in recent years, it still has a lot of open space and a lot of forest land compared with other parts of the country. South of Eugene or East of the Cascades, the population is a good deal thinner.

Another reason is that there are several large Native reservations in Oregon, and it is a sad fact that Indigenous people who live on reservations, especially Indigenous women, are the population group who disappear more often than any other. This disturbing statistic is consistent across all 36 states in which there are Native American and Alaskan Native reservations as well as Hawaiian Native homelands.

People disappear from places like Corvallis, too. In 2009, brothers Alex and Andrew Lee disappeared, apparently kidnapped by their father, and have not been seen by their mother since. Patricia Lynn Swanberg, age 34, disappeared from Corvallis in 1992, never to be found. Apartment manager Richard Lee Carter, age 41, disappeared from Corvallis in 2011, and hasn’t been seen since. In 2020, Ava Carey went missing and, after a large search was conducted, was recovered safely. In 2021, the disappearance of Christian Long, missing since 2016, was finally solved when his remains were found.

Is There Anywhere To Get Help?

Not surprisingly, there are many private organizations active in the search for the missing. Some are well-organized and run by experienced professionals. Some are run by people who are sincerely dedicated to finding the lost. Some don’t present themselves well, and seem to be either well-intentioned but poorly run or are simply mercenary outfits in it for the money. 

For example, one private group declares itself “THE OFFICIAL MISSING PERSONS DATABASE FOR OREGON, USA,” a claim which ought to raise an eyebrow – if not both. The site itself relies on public record requests and tends to read as though it were written by someone who doesn’t speak English well.

So What Do I Do?

If someone you know goes missing, the first place you should turn for help is the police agency closest to where the missing person lives whether that is the Police Department or the County Sheriff’s Office. 

In Corvallis, you can reach the police via the web or by phone at 541-766-6924 or by calling 911 if the issue is an emergency.

In Benton County, you can reach the sheriff via the web or by phone at 541-766-6858.

If you suspect strongly that someone has gone missing far from home, you may want to contact the Oregon State Police or the FBI, especially if the missing person is under 14 years of age. Generally, local authorities will contact state or federal agencies if they think it’s warranted, and the best thing for you to do is to work through them.

If someone you know is a student at Oregon State University or another state school and living away from home for the first time, they may be out of touch for a while without it meaning anything more than that they have become careless about keeping in touch. It’s very likely that the institution’s authorities will insist on treating it that way, no matter what the circumstances may suggest. If you find yourself concerned for the safety of a student who is living away from home, whether on campus or in town, there are resources you can consult within the school structure and also among the student body and the community.

If you are worried about someone attending OSU, you can reach the Public Safety Office by phone at 541-737-7000 or by calling 911 if the issue is an emergency.

What About Waiting 24 Hours?

You may have heard that “a person isn’t considered missing until 24 hours have passed,” or sometimes it’s 72 hours. There is no such law anywhere in Oregon – or anywhere else in the country. In fact, if a person’s absence is in any way out of the ordinary, the police will want to begin searching immediately, especially if the missing person is considered “vulnerable” – meaning a child, or an intellectually or physically disabled individual.

By John M. Burt