In the summer of 2013, a 25-year-old man named Zachary Porter, known as a devoted single father and the primary caregiver for his mother and grandmother, vanished from McMinnville, Oregon. On the morning of July 23, 2013, just six days after his 25th birthday, Zachary informed his family that he was traveling to North Bend, a coastal town about a three-hour drive away, to sell his motorcycle. He had arranged the sale with a buyer he met online.
Zachary, a resident of McMinnville where he lived with his parents and his young son, was expected to get a ride back home from the buyer after the transaction was complete.
Later that day, Zachary's family received text messages from his phone indicating that he had sold the motorcycle and was on his way home. However, the style of the messages, which included an unusual number of 'dot-dot-dots,' raised suspicion among his family, who did not believe Zachary had sent them. The man who purchased the motorcycle was later contacted by authorities and confirmed that the sale had taken place. He claimed, however, that he did not give Zachary a ride home, stating instead that Zachary had told him a friend would be picking him up at the Myrtlewood factory. This friend has never been identified, and according to Zachary's family, he had unsuccessfully tried to arrange a ride home with several friends before leaving. There were no reported sightings of Zachary at the factory.
The investigation into Zachary's disappearance has been fraught with difficulties due to the lack of concrete leads. While the motorcycle buyer was identified as a person of interest in the case, no suspects have been publicly named. Zachary's family firmly believes that he would not have voluntarily abandoned his son, for whom he was the primary caregiver, or his other family responsibilities. They believe he met with foul play and continue to seek answers about what happened to him. The Coos County Sheriff's Office is the investigating agency for this case, which remains unsolved. The disappearance of Zachary Porter, a member of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, is a painful reminder of the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people.Last Seen: Jul 23, 2013
