Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Missing Wilsonville man's body found in central Oregon

• By: Amanda Newman  
• Published: 11/17/2009 11:31:31 AM
• Last Updated: 11/17/2009 11:47:02 AM

Photo courtesy of KTVZ
Jeff Clites Johnson

TERREBONNE – The body of a missing Wilsonville man was found in the Crooked River Gorge Monday, two days after his vehicle was found in the area.
 
The body of Jeff Clites Johnson, 22, of Wilsonville, was discovered by Search and Rescue members and detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 2 p.m. Monday. Foul play is not suspected, DCSO detective Sgt. Scott Beard said in a press release.
 
Teams, including 36 volunteer SAR members, searched two days before finding Johnson’s remains near Terrebonne in the Crooked River Gorge, below Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.
 
DCSO began searching the area Saturday after a deputy found Johnson’s vehicle, containing personal belongings, on Wimp Way outside Terrebonne. Attempting to locate and contact the man, DCSO discovered his family was filing a missing person’s report with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. SAR volunteers from Jefferson County joined in the search, which had yielded no evidence or leads as of Sunday.
 
DCSO Sgt. Scott Shelton told Oregon news Web site KTVZ.com that a team of mountain rescuers had to rappel down a sheer cliff, with swift-water teams working the Crooked River and the north shore and teams on foot covering the south, to reach the search area, which was down a 200- to 350-foot drop.
 
The investigation is continuing. DCSO detectives are attempting to obtain more information regarding Johnson’s activities prior to his body being recovered.

Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint, where Johnson's body was found


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N.W. Wimp Way, where Johnson's vehicle was found

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