On a sightseeing trip in Tillamook, Oregon, on February 1, 2016, 17-year-old Meghan Elizabeth Owens was with friends when a tragic accident occurred. While hiking on a cliff near the area known as 'The Punch Bowl' at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, she accidentally fell into the water. Meghan, a resident of Marysville, Washington, was visiting the scenic Oregon coast when the incident took place shortly before 3:00 p.m.
The ocean conditions at the time were perilous, with swells reported to be between eight and ten feet.
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched immediately. The United States Coast Guard dispatched helicopter crews, boat crews, and rescue swimmers to the area to locate the missing teenager. Local fire and rescue personnel also joined the search efforts on their own watercraft. However, the increasingly rough seas posed a significant danger to the rescuers themselves, leading to a harrowing situation where two of the local searchers had to be rescued from the water by a Coast Guard helicopter. The intensive search continued into the evening and resumed the following morning, covering a vast 72-square-mile area of the ocean.
Despite the comprehensive 19-hour search, crews were unable to find any sign of Meghan Owens. The dangerous conditions ultimately forced the suspension of the active search and rescue efforts. At the time of her disappearance, Meghan was described as a White female with brown hair and brown eyes. She had piercings in her eyebrow and nose and a scar on her right arm. She was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a teal undershirt, and blue 'True Religion' brand jeans. Although the search was called off, the case of what happened to Meghan Owens remains a somber reminder of the power and danger of the ocean. She is presumed to have drowned in the turbulent waters.Last Seen: Feb 1, 2016
