After days of searching near Lookout Reservoir east of Lowell, crews on Sunday recovered the body of 22-year-old University of Oregon student Tyler Davis, according to Lane County deputies. Friends and family had not heard from Davis since Thursday, and search teams first found his car near the water before locating his body. Investigators say they have found no sign of criminal activity as they continue to look into what happened.
Lane County Sheriff's Office teams, working with Oregon State Police and Eugene police, launched an intensive multi-day operation that pulled in canines, drones, boats, divers and grid-style ground crews, according to KBND. Volunteers and Search & Rescue members put in long shifts scouring the steep, forested hillsides east of Lowell.
Davis, 22, was identified by authorities as a University of Oregon student who last had contact with friends and relatives on Thursday and was reported missing to Eugene police the following day. His vehicle was later found parked near Lookout Reservoir, prompting the wide-ranging search that ultimately led to Sunday's discovery, as reported by Lookout Eugene.
Lane County sheriff's deputies told local media they found Davis' body near the shoreline and emphasized there was "no evidence of a crime." The sheriff's office and Oregon State Police remained at the scene while the Lane County medical examiner prepared to determine the cause and manner of death, officials told KOIN.
How the search unfolded
The steep, forested terrain and limited access roads made the search area tricky, so teams leaned on drones, K9 units and boats to sweep the shoreline and nearby trails. Lookout Eugene reported that volunteers and Search & Rescue crews logged more than 400 hours in the field, while KBND noted the coordinated use of dive teams and boats to check both the shoreline and submerged areas of the reservoir.
Investigation and how to help
Investigators have not released further information about what may have led to Davis' disappearance and are asking anyone who might have seen him, his vehicle or anything unusual near Lookout Reservoir around Thursday to call the Lane County Sheriff's Office at 541-682-4150, option 1. That request for tips and details on the multi-agency search were included in local coverage by Right Now Oregon.
