2 Bodies Found in Forest Park: Portland Police

PORTLAND, OR — Portland police on Wednesday morning responded to Forest Park, north of Pittock Mansion, after two bodies were discovered. Police have not released the identities of the deceased, though Portland police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Burley said during a news conference at 1 p.m. that the discovery is related to a missing persons investigation involving a 15-year-old girl from Aloha and a 23-year-old man from Pasco, Washington.

A dog reportedly found the bodies roughly 80 feet from the intersection of the Wildwood and Lower Macleay trails, Burley said. Mountain Wave Search & Rescue as well as police air support and K9 units were in the area assisting in the search for Annieka Vaughan and Zachary Petersen when the bodies were found.

Burley said the identities of the deceased would be released after the Oregon State Medical Examiner could perform the requisite autopsies. Burley indicated that could take until later this week.

While investigators did find a backpack at the scene, Burley could not confirm whether any weapons were found; he did say, however, foul play is not suspected in this incident. He also said there is no immediate danger to the public.

Washington County homicide detective Robert Rookhuyzen said the families of both Vaughan and Petersen were notified of the discovery "just in case."

Vaughan is a victim in a sexual abuse case out of Benton County, Washington. She reportedly ran away from her home in Aloha on Oct. 30 and was thought to be traveling with Petersen — the man accused of abusing her, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Petersen is the suspect in the Benton County Sheriff's Office sex abuse investigation, police said. Petersen reportedly also went missing Oct. 30 after calling a crisis line in Washington.

Police previously said Petersen may be suicidal and in possession of a firearm, adding that both Petersen and Vaughan could be traveling to Seaside, Oregon, or Sacramento in Petersen's white 1998 Ford F-250 extended cab pickup.

On Nov. 6, police were notified when Petersen's truck was found around 8 a.m. in a gravel parking lot in the 3500-block of Northwest Cornell Road in Portland — roughly one mile from where the bodies were found Wednesday. Vaughan's backpack was found inside the truck, police said.

Around 6 p.m. that evening, police were called to the 4100-block of Southwest Fairview Boulevard after a resident in the area heard voices coming from the area around Hemlock Trail and Southwest Fairview Boulevard, but no one was found during a search of the area.

This post will be updated when more information is available.

Photo Courtesy: Renee Schiavone, Patch News