2-Year-Old Boy Who Vanished from Front Yard Found Dead 3 Miles Away in Oregon River

Mar. 15, 2025

Dane Paulson.Photo:Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

A 2-year-old boy was found dead after a ten-day search.

Dane Paulsen, who was last seen playing outside his family’s rural Oregon home on March 1, was found dead on Tuesday, March 11 at around 11:13 a.m. in the Siletz River, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Oregonsaid in a statement. Dane’s body was found about 3 miles downstream from his family’s home.

Juan Heredia of Angels Recovery Dive Team discovered the toddler’s body, the sheriff’s office said.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office investigators are now processing the scene. The office is working with the Lincoln County Medical Examiners Office. No additional details were publicly released.

The toddler was last seen in the front yard of his residence north of Siletz, Ore., on March 1, at approximately 4:25 p.m. local time, thesheriff’s officesaid on March 2.

“Dane is friendly and fearless, and is comfortable around strangers and water, but cannot swim,” the sheriff’s office said. “Dane is known to love water and vehicles.”

By 9 p.m. the next day, the sheriff’s office, along with the Oregon State Police, FBI, other regional agencies and nearly 150 community volunteers, had searched 382 acres and covered 283 miles utilizing watercraft, divers, drones and K9s.

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Meanwhile, investigators said the boy’s disappearance did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued.

“There is no evidence at this time to suggest criminal actions are involved in this incident,” the sheriff’s office said.

As the search continued, authorities cautioned that community volunteers should not venture out on their own to look for the child.

“Our team and the community are working tirelessly to bring Dane home,” the sheriff’s office post read.

source: people.com