DEATH INVESTIGATION - ONE WOMAN DROWNS, ONE MISSING OFF AGATE BEACH IN PORT ORFORD AREA
Posted: April 24th, 2010 9:12 AM
Oregon State Police (OSP), with the assistance of Port Orford Police Department, Curry County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), is continuing the investigation and subsequent search into the apparent drowning of two women Friday off a Port Orford-area beach. One woman's body was recovered after being spotted by a person at the beach and the other is presumed missing. Curry County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue and USCG air station North Bend were scheduled to continue an area search for the other missing woman Saturday morning.
According to OSP Sergeant Scott Punch, on April 23, 2010 at approximately 3:30 p.m. a report was received that a deceased female was discovered after washing ashore on Agate Beach adjacent to Port Orford. The local fire chief identified the woman as DARLENE BRYSON, age 78, who resided close to the beach. Port Orford Police Department contacted her 88-year old husband who said she had gone for a walk on the beach at 10:30 a.m. that morning and had not returned. Her husband helped positively identify her.
OSP and the Curry County District Attorney responded to the scene. OSP learned during the investigation that DARLENE BRYSON had gone to the beach with another woman, 53-year old KATHLEEN MEEKER, from Port Orford. MEEKER's car, purse and belongings were located at the BRYSON residence. A check of her residence, and her mother and daughter's house, revealed she was also missing. It is presumed at this time that she also drowned.
Punch said the beach area that both women were walking is hazardous due to contour, deep soft sand, severe drop off where the water meets the beach, and numerous rip tides.
The USCG air station North Bend was contacted and responded with a helicopter to conduct a search of the beach and waters. Curry County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue began a search of the beach area. Both plan to resume the search in the morning at low tide in daylight hours.
Port Orford Police Department took the missing person reports. Port Orford Ambulance and Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.
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