Account
Jan 31, 2019
Aug 20, 2020
Riley
Salisbury
24
19
71 inches
140 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On a winter day in January 2019, 19-year-old Riley Salisbury vanished while duck hunting on Karlson Island in the Columbia River, a familiar and cherished environment for the avid outdoorsman. He was with his father and younger brother, a customary excursion for the close-knit family from Bethany, Oregon. The trio had separated into two small boats, a common practice for them, staying within a short distance of one another. Concern began to mount around noon when Riley, who had set off on his own in a small boat, stopped responding to text messages from his father. After his father's attempts to reach him by cell phone were unsuccessful and a search of the immediate area yielded no sign of Riley, a call was made to 911, setting in motion a large-scale search and rescue operation. The search for Riley was extensive, involving the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, and the use of infrared technology. Despite the comprehensive efforts, searchers were unable to locate the missing teenager. They did, however, find his small boat adrift about a mile downstream from Russian Island. Inside the boat were his bag, life jacket, and cell phone, all seemingly undisturbed. On Karlson Island, his fully loaded gun was also discovered. The scene was unsettlingly calm, with no indications of a struggle or any apparent disarray. His father, Todd Salisbury, expressed his confusion and grief, stating, "it's literally as if someone picked him straight up out of his position and carried him away because there's no sign of any type of struggle." After days of intensive searching with no new leads, the official search was suspended. Riley was known for his deep passion for the outdoors, wildlife, and conservation. He was a talented artist who enjoyed drawing detailed sketches of the birds that inhabited the river and was also skilled in taxidermy, having a large collection he had created himself. His family described him as a caring individual who looked after his siblings and was deeply knowledgeable about the biology of the area he so loved. In the years that have followed his disappearance, his case has remained unsolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. Investigators have stated they believe Riley is deceased, though no trace of him has ever been found. The absence of any new evidence or leads has left the circumstances of what happened that day on the Columbia River a heartbreaking mystery, a narrative of a young man with a deep love for the natural world who went out to enjoy its beauty and never returned.
Jan 12, 2019
Karlson Island
Oregon
Clatsop County
No
47010
Clatsop County Sheriff's Office
Warrenton
Oregon
Clatsop County
97146
1190 Southeast 19th Street, Oregon
5033258635
County
Law Enforcement
201090090
2019-01-12
Clatsop County Sheriff's Office
9279
Brown
Blue
Blue
No
05/14/2026
