NEED TO KNOW
- Donald Carroll, 88, of Lebanon, Ore., left his home on Oct. 4 and disappeared, according to police
- On Oct. 18, authorities found Carroll’s remains in a wooded canyon in Linn County thanks to a mushroom hunter
- “We are so grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and help from friends, family, and the community during this difficult time,” his family said
The body of an 88-year-old Oregon man with dementia who disappeared for two weeks was found following a tip from a mushroom hunter, authorities said.
Donald Carroll left his home on Oct. 4 and had not returned, the Lebanon Police Department said in a news release. He was reported to have been last seen on Highway 20, and a GPS tracker on his keychain was last pinged on McKercher Park near Crawfordsville.
“Donald’s family is concerned for his welfare and is asking the public for help in locating him,” the Lebanon Police Department stated in their Oct. 5 post. Police noted that Carroll had dementia.
Then on Monday, Oct. 20, the department shared an update that the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received a call two days earlier from a mushroom picker in the area of Upper Calapooia Drive and Blue Reservoir River Road — about 30 miles east of Highway 228 in Linn County
According to the police department, the man said that he found an unoccupied vehicle at that location. The license plate number of the vehicle matched that of a car belonging to Carroll.
Authorities responded to the scene, and through the use of a drone, found Carroll’s deceased body in a “steep, wooded, rocky canyon,” about 150-200 feet below the roadway where the victim’s car was found, Lebanon police said.
A medical examiner and Carroll’s relatives arrived at the scene, police said. Authorities later retrieved the body and transported it to a funeral home. No foul play is suspected.
“The Lebanon Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the department added.
According to an obituary, Carroll was born in Bismarck, N.D., and graduated from Lebanon High School and received a degree from Oregon College of Education.
Carroll later became a teacher at Lebanon High School and served several administrative roles. He was inducted into the Bud and Dorothy Page Lebanon High School Hall of Fame in 2022.
“Donnie never knew a stranger and was always the first to approach others with kindness and warmth,” his obituary read. “He had a lifelong passion for mentoring young people and helping them find their strengths both on and off the field. He loved elk hunting, fishing, and just about any sport. Donnie will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose warmth, humor, and compassion.”
Carroll is survived by his wife, three children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to the obituary.
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After his body was found, his family said that they were “saddened by this loss but comforted knowing he has been found and is at peace” in a statement shared on Facebook.
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and help from friends, family, and the community during this difficult time,” they continued.
