News Updates from The Oregonian

What would you do if someone you loved vanished and was never heard from again? That was the case for several families we interviewed on the first five episodes of The Unidentifieds podcast. In previous episodes, we explored the rapidly expanding use of genetic genealogy in finding the identities of long lost souls whose remains were found in Oregon. We told the stories of a nomadi

In September 1979, two hikers discovered human remains on a rocky slope above a little-used trail near Multnomah Falls. They found bones, a skull and a few personal belongings: gold-rimmed aviator glasses, a yellow cap with black felt letters reading “NT” and a chewed-up checkbook from First National Bank of Oregon. But there was no wallet or other identifying information. Base

On August 2, 1986, two U.S. Forest Service workers were out collecting timber data on a remote logging road in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Government Camp when they stumbled upon a human skull, bone fragments, and a single tooth. Investigators took photos of the scene and the remains were transported and inventoried at the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. The coroner esti

In the first two episodes of The Unidentifieds, we explored two decades-old cold cases involving remains found in southern Oregon. We learned how DNA and genealogical sleuthing gave a little boy and a young woman their names back. But what is genetic genealogy? It goes far beyond the 23andMe gift card you received a few holidays ago from a relative. In Episode 3, hosts Regan Mertz

On the morning of July 11, 1963, a fisherman made a horrifying discovery: He stumbled across the concealed remains of a 2-year-old boy. The tiny body was wrapped in blankets, tied with wire and held down by iron weights in the Keene Creek Reservoir along Oregon 66 east of Ashland, Oregon. Officials moved the body to a cemetery where his tombstone read, “Unknown Baby Boy 1961-1963

There are so many unidentified human remains in the United States that the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System calls it “the nation’s silent mass disaster.” Roughly 4,400 human remains are found every year, and nearly one-quarter of those remain unidentified after one year. Some people were never reported missing. Some went missing decades ago. Some remains are i

There are 120 unidentified human remains in Oregon – cases exist in all but three counties. Most were discovered in the Pacific Northwest wilderness, parts of their skeleton scattered in between rocks and twigs, and most go unfound and unidentified for decades. The Unidentifieds, a narrative podcast hosted by Regan Mertz and Dave Killen for The Oregonian/OregonLive, tells the sto

The News Updates with The Oregonian podcast is on indefinite hiatus. Thanks for listening over the years. Make sure to check out our other podcast offerings at Oregonlive.com/podcasts. We’ve got a news podcast called Beat Check with The Oregonian where we take you behind the headlines of important stories, we’ve also got a travel and outdoors podcast called Peak Northwest and s

A lawsuit alleges the St. Helen's School District allowed complaints of teacher harassment to go unchecked, Portland's O'Bryant square is reopening and area ice creameries gear up for warmer weather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

School district failed to protect 7th grade girl who was bullied, beaten by classmates, lawsuit alleges. Crew lands on remote Oregon ‘Terrible Tilly’ lighthouse for first time in years. Here’s what they found. 3 Portland restaurants among finalists for 2023 James Beard restaurant and chef awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices