Volunteer diver discovers deceased toddler in Oregon river after going missing.
Alrighty, let's talk about little Dane Paulsen, the 2-year-old who went missing from his family's backyard in Oregon a fortnight ago.
Unfortunately, after a long and grueling search, Dane was found dead in the Siletz River, some three miles downstream from his family's property, as confirmed by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. The tragedy unfolded around Siletz, a coastal town situated about 130 miles south of Portland.
Sheriff Adam Shanks expressed his condolences to Dane's family, stating, "Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow..." He also acknowledged the assistance and dedication of the search teams and the community, even though the circumstances couldn't have been more disheartening.
Hundreds of volunteers and emergency responders from various state and federal law enforcement agencies joined forces, utilizing specialized equipment, dogs, drones, and watercraft to search for the missing toddler following his disappearance in early March.
Juan Heredia, a search and recovery diving instructor with Angels Recovery Dive Team, was the one who found Dane. While on vacation in Mexico, Heredia had learned about Dane's case on Facebook and decided to lend a hand to bring closure to the family.
According to Heredia, he discovered Dane at the riverbed near a tree in a previously checked area by law enforcement. While there are no words to describe this heart-wrenching situation, Heredia told KATU, "It's a baby, and it's so hard..."
- In the midst of the heart-wrenching situation, Juan Heredia, a search and recovery diving instructor, found Dane in the riverbed near a tree in a previously checked area by law enforcement.
- Despite the initial search efforts by hundreds of volunteers and emergency responders, it was Heredia, who was on vacation in Mexico and learned about Dane's case on Facebook, that ultimately discovered Dane in the Siletz River.
- As the tragedy unfolded in Siletz, a coastal town in Oregon, Sheriff Adam Shanks expressed his condolences to Dane's family, acknowledging the dedication of the search teams and the community, even though the circumstances were disheartening.
