Forest Park Bodies Identified As Annieka Vaughan, Zach Petersen

PORTLAND, OR — The Oregon State Medical Examiner identified the two bodies found in Forest Park Wednesday morning as missing Aloha teen Annieka Vaughan, 15, and the man accused of sexually abusing her, 23-year-old Zachary Petersen. According to police, both died from gunshot wounds; Petersen killed Vaughan before turning the gun on himself.

Portland police on Nov. 8 responded to Forest Park, north of Pittock Mansion, after Petersen and Vaughan were found by a Mountain Wave Search & Rescue dog. Police did not immediately release their identities, though Portland police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Burley said during a news conference that the discovery was related to a missing persons investigation involving Vaughan and Petersen.

Vaughan and Petersen were reportedly found roughly 80 feet from the intersection of the Wildwood and Lower Macleay trails, Burley said.

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

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

Petersen was thought to be in a suicidal state of mind and possibly in possession of a firearm. Police initially speculated Petersen and Vaughan were 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 their 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 story is ongoing. Refresh for updates.

Related:

2 Bodies Found in Forest Park: Portland Police (Nov. 8)

• The discovery was made in an area where police were searching for a missing girl and the man with whom she was thought to be traveling.

Annieka Vaughan: Police Locate Suspect Vehicle; Still Seek Tips (Published Nov. 2, Updated Nov. 6)

• Annieka Vaughan, 15, is thought to be traveling with 23-year-old Zachary Petersen of Pasco, WA. Petersen's truck was found Nov. 6.

Photo Courtesy: Washington County Sheriff's Office