A 14-year-old who had been reported missing from Tigard in March was found dead Monday along the Eastbank Esplanade near Southeast Salmon Street, according to police. Investigators say they are treating the death as a suspected fentanyl overdose, and the Portland Police Bureau’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit responded to the scene. The discovery follows weeks of searching after state and local agencies issued missing-child alerts earlier this spring.
In a press release shared by the Portland Police Bureau, officials said Central Precinct officers were called to the esplanade area on Monday, where they located the juvenile. Investigators told the release they believe the cause of death was a suspected fentanyl overdose and confirmed that the bureau’s narcotics unit is handling the investigation. "This is a heartbreaking outcome, especially given the victim's age," Chief Bob Day said in the release.
Missing alerts and prior searches
The youth had been reported missing from Tigard on March 19, according to a Child Welfare Division alert from the Oregon Department of Human Services. The ODHS notice identified the child as Chayton Owings and said he was believed to be in the Portland metro area, including the Eastbank Esplanade and encampments near the Hawthorne Bridge.
Numbers and local context
The police release included bureau counts showing one juvenile overdose notification so far in 2026, compared with four in 2025 and seven in 2024. Adult overdose notifications were listed as 75 year-to-date in 2026, 216 in 2025 and 268 in 2024, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The Associated Press has previously reported on an alarming rise in suspected fentanyl overdoses involving children in Portland, a trend that has fueled both public-health campaigns and increased police attention.
What officials and public-health agencies say
Multnomah County and city officials have rolled out outreach, naloxone distribution and other prevention work in recent years as part of the broader response to fentanyl, county notices show. The Oregon Health Authority also notes that people who call 911 for an overdose are afforded protections under the state’s Good Samaritan law and that naloxone is widely available through local programs.
The investigation remains active as narcotics detectives work to determine the full circumstances. Anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement so investigators can follow up on leads.
