OR FOUR PEOPLE: Missing from McKenzie River Valley, Lane County, OR - 2020-2023 *Two Found Deceased*

Mystery deepens as four people remain missing in Blue River/Vida area

Mekenna Reiley is one of four people who have recently gone missing in the Blue River/Vida area. Partial remains of Shane Sprenger were found last month. Spreng

nbc16.com

Mystery deepens as four people remain missing in Blue River/Vida area
Mekenna Reiley is one of four people who have recently gone missing in the Blue River/Vida area. Partial remains of Shane Sprenger were found last month. Sprenger had been missing since November 2021. His remains were found off Quartz Creek Road.
That's where Chase Roberson's car was found in April 2020. Robertson is still missing.

There's also Eric Ray Brazil. He was last seen in Springfield, but his car was found abandoned in Vida with his cell phone nearby. Brazil has not been found.

Last week our newsroom asked LCSO if these four people could be connected.

"The best I could do to put any minds at ease on that is to say we have not discovered any evidence that leads us to believe that they are linked or related or that there is a serial killer," LCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Tom Speldrich explained. "Certainly if we're able to uncover any information that would lead us to believe that, we would be letting the public know for safety reasons, but we have nothing that tells us that that's the case right here. It's a wooded, wilderness, rural area. It's tough terrain. It can be hard to find people if they go missing in those areas so while I can't say definitively that there's not a link, we have nothing that makes us think that there is at this point."






To be clear, this is an approximately 30-mile stretch of rural Oregon with 4 missing persons in the last 3 years. I have no idea if the cases are related. LE is saying they are not, but we have heard that before, very recently. Regardless, posting here for awareness and discussion. Even if they're not at all related, a little more awareness doesn't hurt.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

April 29, 2020 - Chayston "Chase" Robertson missing from Leaburg, Oregon
May 4, 2020 - Chase's car found abandoned on remote spur road (Quartz Creek Road) north of Blue River Lake/Reservoir

Have you seen Chase Roberson since April 29? Lane County man missing

EUGENE, Ore. - Have you seen Chase Roberson? His family reported the 25-year-old missing May 2, the Lane County Sheriff's Office said. His family hasn't seen him since April 29. "Deputies responded and searched the areas Chase was known to frequent with no success," the sheriff's office said...

kval.com

November 3, 2021 - Shane Sprenger missing from Blue River / McKenzie Bridge, Oregon area
November 5, 2021 - Shane's truck found abandoned in remote area near Blue River Reservoir

Disappearance of Shane Sprenger remains a mystery in Lane County

The disappearance of Shane Sprenger is still a mystery. The Vida man vanished more than three months ago in east Lane County and there is no sign of him since that day. We retraced his steps from the day he went missing and spoke to his family and investigators to get the facts on his case...

kpic.com

March 14, 2022 - Eric Brazil missing from Springfield, Oregon
March 27, 2022 - Eric's vehicle found in remote area near Vida, Oregon

Car belonging to missing Springfield man found by passerby in Vida

34-year-old Eric Ray Brazil was reported as missing to the Springfield Police Department by a friend earlier this month after being last seen on March 14. On Sunday, March 27, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a wooded area near the end of Goodpasture Road in Vida after a passerby...

kval.com

April 5, 2023 - Mekenna Reiley missing from Blue River, Oregon
Mekenna's vehicle was left at her home

Family 'distraught' since Blue River woman goes missing

Blue River resident MeKenna Reiley was last seen on the evening of Wednesday, April 5th, when the 40-year-old was spotted in the area of River Street and McKenz

nbc16.com

Found "Late 2022" / Identified June 2023 - Partial remains of Shane Sprenger found off Quartz Creek Road, about 5 miles south of where his vehicle was located.

Partial remains of missing Blue River man Shane Sprenger discovered; foul play not ruled out yet

We're learning new details about the death of Shane Sprenger, the Blue River man who went missing in November of 2021.The Lane County Sheriff’s Office announced

nbc16.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Blue River community rallies to continue search for missing woman Mekenna Reiley

The search continues for missing Blue River woman Mekenna Reiley, and as the official search effort has ramped down, residents of the area are pushing forward.

kval.com

Blue River community rallies to continue search for missing woman Mekenna Reiley
The search continues for missing Blue River woman Mekenna Reiley.

And as the official search effort has ramped down, residents of the area are pushing the search forward.

It's been since April 5th that Blue River resident Mekenna Reiley has been missing. And in the months that followed 1 person, her boyfriend, Wyatt Groggins has been camped here at the edge of the Blue River reservoir, leading a citizen search effort.

“I've been making my rounds around the reservoir in the banks and stuff like that. My friend Ken is training his search and rescue dog,” said Groggins.

After months of pacing the McKenzie wilderness for signs of Reiley, Groggins says he's been using his kayak, rowboat and diving gear to go where most search teams cannot, into the reservoir.

“The water level was about 20 or 30 feet lower, so it's a challenge. When she disappeared, it was different.”

The dense forest near where Reiley was last seen creates a challenge for any search party.

But for people with little-to-no search experience, the task is even more daunting.

Groggins, the Blue River community and Reiley’s family have worked together to continue the search.

“It's just been a real struggle. I got a lot of friends who have been showing up, a lot of people who are trying to come out and help me. I have friends all the time to check on me and volunteer to help.”

Friends like Ken Smith.

Smith came up from the valley to provide his K-9 search and rescue experience and says he's been combing the thick wilderness since the very beginning.

“I came out here the very first time that Lane County Sheriff's asked for the public's help. So, I contacted Bevin and the family, and they said I was able to come out and help search,” Smith said.

Smith says searching near Blue River has natural challenges, but since the Holiday Farm Fire, that task has become even more difficult.

“It's been hard. After the fire, it's so dangerous. There are big caverns in the ground from roots burning.”

Smith and Groggins say they've seen tremendous support, and any volunteers willing to come continue the search for Reiley will help their efforts.

“It's a good community. There are people willing to help. There are people that have come from places. That aren't even local that have come app to help. Mekenna is very well missed.”

 

[Kimster]

I’m very familiar with this area. I haven’t been up there in quite a few years, but back in my camping days I went up there in safe areas and through there quite often. There’s a lot of people that go up there to have a good time so some could have been impaired and gotten lost. There are some areas I wouldn’t go to for that reason. Didn’t want any trouble.

 

[Mel70]

It does seem odd that the one man's partial remains were found in the same area as another missing man's car. And they are asking for help from anyone who knows the 4 knew each other. So they say there is no connection. But at the same time, They are looking for one.

 

[Kimster]

Blue River community rallies to continue search for missing woman Mekenna Reiley

The search continues for missing Blue River woman Mekenna Reiley, and as the official search effort has ramped down, residents of the area are pushing forward.

kval.com

Blue River community rallies to continue search for missing woman Mekenna Reiley
The search continues for missing Blue River woman Mekenna Reiley.

And as the official search effort has ramped down, residents of the area are pushing the search forward.

It's been since April 5th that Blue River resident Mekenna Reiley has been missing. And in the months that followed 1 person, her boyfriend, Wyatt Groggins has been camped here at the edge of the Blue River reservoir, leading a citizen search effort.

“I've been making my rounds around the reservoir in the banks and stuff like that. My friend Ken is training his search and rescue dog,” said Groggins.

After months of pacing the McKenzie wilderness for signs of Reiley, Groggins says he's been using his kayak, rowboat and diving gear to go where most search teams cannot, into the reservoir.

“The water level was about 20 or 30 feet lower, so it's a challenge. When she disappeared, it was different.”

The dense forest near where Reiley was last seen creates a challenge for any search party.

But for people with little-to-no search experience, the task is even more daunting.

Groggins, the Blue River community and Reiley’s family have worked together to continue the search.

“It's just been a real struggle. I got a lot of friends who have been showing up, a lot of people who are trying to come out and help me. I have friends all the time to check on me and volunteer to help.”

Friends like Ken Smith.

Smith came up from the valley to provide his K-9 search and rescue experience and says he's been combing the thick wilderness since the very beginning.

“I came out here the very first time that Lane County Sheriff's asked for the public's help. So, I contacted Bevin and the family, and they said I was able to come out and help search,” Smith said.

Smith says searching near Blue River has natural challenges, but since the Holiday Farm Fire, that task has become even more difficult.

“It's been hard. After the fire, it's so dangerous. There are big caverns in the ground from roots burning.”

Smith and Groggins say they've seen tremendous support, and any volunteers willing to come continue the search for Reiley will help their efforts.

“It's a good community. There are people willing to help. There are people that have come from places. That aren't even local that have come app to help. Mekenna is very well missed.”

I don’t think MeKenna’s case is connected. I think she seems to have had a mental health crisis. Just my own uneducated opinion. I do hope they find her, if she’s up there, while they’re searching.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I don’t think MeKenna’s case is connected. I think she seems to have had a mental health crisis. Just my own uneducated opinion. I do hope they find her, if she’s up there, while they’re searching.

That was my impression as well. Eric was also apparently having a mental health crisis (paranoid state) when he disappeared.

It's just all so strange and in such a small area. But like I said, I have no reason to believe they're connected either, other than location.

Facebook group for Mekenna - Mekenna Reiley Investigation: Missing from Blue River, Oregon | Facebook
Chase - On the look out for Chase Robertson | Facebook
Shane - Missing in Blue River Oregon area: Find Shane Sprenger | Facebook
I'm not sure if there is a page for Eric. I haven't seen one.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

LCSO downplays missing person connections: 'Different fact patterns'

Lane County Sheriff's deputies do not have evidence connecting four missing people who each have connections to Blue River and/or Vida."They've got different fa

kval.com

LCSO downplays missing person connections: 'Different fact patterns'
Lane County Sheriff's deputies do not have evidence connecting four missing people who each have connections to Blue River and/or Vida.

"They've got different fact patterns and the circumstances of them do not overlap, so to speak, do not link them together at this point," LCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Tom Speldrich said. "We haven't uncovered evidence that links them together. They're just specifically different fact patterns."

Deputies continue to investigate the disappearances and pursue all tips and leads that come in.

 

[Mel70]

Wow! Water levels were 20-30 feet lower when MeKenna disappeared. LE ramped down efforts as citizens aren't stopping. Especially her boyfriend who is camping there.

 

[GrandmaBear]

LCSO downplays missing person connections: 'Different fact patterns'

Lane County Sheriff's deputies do not have evidence connecting four missing people who each have connections to Blue River and/or Vida."They've got different fa

kval.com

LCSO downplays missing person connections: 'Different fact patterns'
Lane County Sheriff's deputies do not have evidence connectingfour missing peoplewho each have connections to Blue River and/or Vida.

"They've got different fact patterns and the circumstances of them do not overlap, so to speak, do not link them together at this point," LCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Tom Speldrich said. "We haven't uncovered evidence that links them together. They're just specifically different fact patterns."

Deputies continue to investigate the disappearances and pursue all tips and leads that come in.

Kind of hard to put in any faith in their statement of "not connected" since we just saw the very same thing basically said with the others and they WERE.

And I'm not saying I think they are, just that who would put any faith in the usual type of statement by LE especially in a state where it was recently found to be a lie with others?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Man caught red-handed trying to access storage unit of missing Oregon woman: family

Mekenna Reiley has been missing from her home in Blue River, Oregon, since April 5.

www.kptv.com

Man caught red-handed trying to access storage unit of missing Oregon woman: family​

Missing Mekenna Reiley, a 40-year-old Oregon speech teacher, was last seen in April disoriented and naked at a rural construction site according to her family, which suspects foul play and is asking for anyone who knows anything to speak with authorities.

“She told the police she was scared of something,” she said. “She said she couldn’t go home, she had nowhere safe to go…so she drove there.”

Now, the family says that a photo obtained by Fox News Digital shows an unidentified man who tried to access her storage unit in Phoenix, Oregon, sometime after she disappeared.

The image was captured by a keypad camera at Reiley’s storage unit. After failing to gain entry to her unit, the man left, according to Stepp. The unidentified man has not been named a suspect or person of interest.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER DISAPPEARANCE AT LINK

Man spotted at Oregon storage unit not connected to Mekenna Reiley disappearance, sheriff's office says

A previously unidentified man who appeared in a photograph at an Oregon storage facility where missing speech therapist Mekenna Reiley had a storage unit is not a suspect or person of interest, according to authorities. A Fox News Digital reader recognized and identified the man in the photo Tuesday

www.wgmd.com

Man spotted at Oregon storage unit not connected to Mekenna Reiley disappearance, sheriff’s office says​

A previously unidentified man who appeared in a photograph at an Oregon storage facility where missing speech therapist Mekenna Reiley had a storage unit is not a suspect or person of interest, according to authorities.

A Fox News Digital reader recognized and identified the man in the photo Tuesday evening.

“[He] has been identified, interviewed, is not, nor was he ever a suspect in Mekenna’s disappearance,” Tom Speldrich, the Lane County Sheriff’s public information officer, told Fox News Digital Wednesday.

The man is another customer of the same storage facility as the missing 40-year-old and has cooperated with investigators, he said.

“The storage company indicated early on that the person depicted may not have actually attempted access to Mekenna’s storage unit,” Speldrich added. “Sheriff’s office investigators confirmed that the person depicted did not attempt access to Mekenna’s storage unit.”

 

[Mel70]

Man caught red-handed trying to access storage unit of missing Oregon woman: family

Mekenna Reiley has been missing from her home in Blue River, Oregon, since April 5.

www.kptv.com

Man caught red-handed trying to access storage unit of missing Oregon woman: family​

Missing Mekenna Reiley, a 40-year-old Oregon speech teacher, was last seen in April disoriented and naked at a rural construction site according to her family, which suspects foul play and is asking for anyone who knows anything to speak with authorities.

“She told the police she was scared of something,” she said. “She said she couldn’t go home, she had nowhere safe to go…so she drove there.”

Now, the family says that a photo obtained by Fox News Digital shows an unidentified man who tried to access her storage unit in Phoenix, Oregon, sometime after she disappeared.

The image was captured by a keypad camera at Reiley’s storage unit. After failing to gain entry to her unit, the man left, according to Stepp. The unidentified man has not been named a suspect or person of interest.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER DISAPPEARANCE AT LINK

Man spotted at Oregon storage unit not connected to Mekenna Reiley disappearance, sheriff's office says

A previously unidentified man who appeared in a photograph at an Oregon storage facility where missing speech therapist Mekenna Reiley had a storage unit is not a suspect or person of interest, according to authorities. A Fox News Digital reader recognized and identified the man in the photo Tuesday

www.wgmd.com

Man spotted at Oregon storage unit not connected to Mekenna Reiley disappearance, sheriff’s office says​

A previously unidentified man who appeared in a photograph at an Oregon storage facility where missing speech therapist Mekenna Reiley had a storage unit is not a suspect or person of interest, according to authorities.

A Fox News Digital reader recognized and identified the man in the photo Tuesday evening.

“[He] has been identified, interviewed, is not, nor was he ever a suspect in Mekenna’s disappearance,” Tom Speldrich, the Lane County Sheriff’s public information officer, told Fox News Digital Wednesday.

The man is another customer of the same storage facility as the missing 40-year-old and has cooperated with investigators, he said.

“The storage company indicated early on that the person depicted may not have actually attempted access to Mekenna’s storage unit,” Speldrich added. “Sheriff’s office investigators confirmed that the person depicted did not attempt access to Mekenna’s storage unit.”

Can't they get their facts right?. This is making them look very incompetent snd stupid. "Caught red handed".

 

[Kimster]

I heard about the storage unit guy on the news. I didn’t know that they have cleared him already. Good grief. I guess the news is slow around here and they needed some hyped up headline.

 

[GrandmaBear]

If he truly was never near or trying to enter hers but only his own or some such then this is absolute bullsh*t. Seriously it should be chargeable or at least fined for reporting such.

But they also say after failing to gain entry he gave up and left. Was he unable to access his own....? Or was that all made up as well, that he never failed to access his own and then left?

They said more than just a little bit here that were likely lies.

 

[Mel70]

If he truly was never near or trying to enter hers but only his own or some such then this is absolute bullsh*t. Seriously it should be chargeable or at least fined for reporting such.

But they also say after failing to gain entry he gave up and left. Was he unable to access his own....? Or was that all made up as well, that he never failed to access his own and then left?

They said more than just a little bit here that were likely lies.

Yeah. Something is very wrong here. Either he absolutely did or didn't. No in between. Maybe I tried to. It's ridiculous.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Sheriff: Body recovered from Blue River Reservoir

LANE COUNTY, Ore. - Investigators with the Lane County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of a deceased person from the water of Blue River Reservoir Saturday,

kval.com

Sheriff: Body recovered from Blue River Reservoir
Investigators with the Lane County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of a deceased person from the water of Blue River Reservoir Saturday, the Sheriff's Office reports.

The identity of the involved and cause of death are under investigation.

"Additional information is not available at this time," LCSO stated.

Body found in Oregon reservoir amid search for missing woman last seen naked and afraid at construction site

Oregon deputies report human remains found in reservoir near home of missing Mekenna Reiley, who was last seen naked and confused at construction site in April.

www.foxnews.com

A body has been found in the Blue River Reservoir east of Eugene, Oregon, amid a months-long search for a missing woman named Mekenna Reiley, who vanished under suspicious circumstances after police were called to a construction site near her home where workers say she arrived naked, disoriented and afraid.

Reiley, a 40-year-old speech teacher, has not been seen or heard from since April. Her keys, purse and phone were discovered at her home in Blue River.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office announced the grim discovery Sunday but said the remains had been recovered a day earlier. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the body or revealed a cause of death. A death investigation is underway.

While an official identification has not been made, Scott McKee, the private investigator hired by Reiley's family, told Fox News Digital that "it seems all indications are that it is her."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Confirmed to be Mekenna. Two of the four found deceased now.

Missing Blue River woman found drowned in Blue River Reservoir

Deputies said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the woman's disappearance.

www.kezi.com

On Saturday, August 12, a body was found in Blue River Reservoir. LCSO officials confirmed on Tuesday, August 15 that it was Reiley, who had drowned in the reservoir. Although the LCSO said there were no indications of foul play, they are continuing to investigate any leads related to Reiley’s disappearance.