In the winter of 1998, a young man named Cullen Origen Jones, just 18 years old, vanished from Keizer, Oregon. On February 12, 1998, he was last seen before he ventured into the vast wilderness of the Mt. Hood National Forest, a place of rugged beauty and unforgiving nature. Cullen was a tall young man, standing at 6 feet, with a slender build, strawberry blonde hair, and blue eyes.
His destination that day was the remote Bagby Hot Springs, a popular spot nestled deep within the forest, sought out for its natural thermal pools.
The circumstances surrounding Cullen's disappearance are sparse, leaving a painful void for those who knew him. After he failed to return home, a search was initiated. The only traces of the 18-year-old ever found were some of his personal belongings, discovered near a tree in the vicinity of the hot springs. Since that discovery, there has been no sign of Cullen and no further clues to explain what might have happened to him on that cold February day. The dense forest that he had walked into seemed to have swallowed him whole, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades.
The case of Cullen Jones remains an open and unresolved missing persons case, a story without an ending that continues to haunt the community. With minimal evidence and no witnesses to his disappearance, the investigation has faced significant challenges over the years. For his family and friends, the passage of time has not diminished the hope for answers or the ache of his absence. The discovery of his possessions offers a somber and final glimpse into his last known moments, but the full story of his journey into the Mt. Hood National Forest and what befell him there remains an unanswered question.Last Seen: Feb 12, 1998
