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Brian Jones Missing Person Case

Last seen in Eugene, Oregon on Sep 24, 2011

Victim Details

Dec 17, 2011

May 21, 2024

Brian

Jones

52

37

72 inches

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Sep 24, 2011

Eugene

Oregon

Lane County

97404

No

11121

Lane County Sheriff's Office

Eugene

Oregon

Lane County

97401

DJ Mann

Sergeant

125 East 8th Avenue, Oregon

5416824150

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/sheriff_s_office

11-7087

Lane County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Blue

Brown

Oct 13, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP13276) and 7 other sources
On a September day in 2011, 37-year-old Brian Christopher Jones, a student at the University of Oregon, was engaged in a mountain climb in the challenging Three Sisters Wilderness. Accompanied by a friend, Jones was near the summit of the North Sister, a mountain known for its difficult and dangerous terrain, when the unthinkable happened. His climbing partner witnessed him fall from the west side of the mountain. The fall was catastrophic; he first rolled down a gravel slope before going over a sheer cliff estimated to be 500 feet high.

Immediate efforts were launched to locate and rescue Jones. Crews from Lane, Linn, and Deschutes counties responded to the emergency call made by his climbing partner. The Oregon Air National Guard dispatched a Black Hawk helicopter, and their crew was able to locate what they believed to be Jones's body at an elevation of around 9,000 feet. However, severe weather conditions, including high winds and snow, made a recovery impossible at the time. The treacherous conditions ultimately forced the suspension of the search and rescue operations by the end of the month.

Brian Jones was a 1992 graduate of Springfield High School and was pursuing a business degree at the University of Oregon with an expected graduation in 2012. He was a father of three and had plans to marry his girlfriend. The North Sister mountain is notorious among climbers for its loose volcanic rock and the limited opportunities to safely anchor ropes. The area where Jones fell is described as a hazardous, exposed, and friable slope. Authorities stated that at the time of the accident, Jones did not have a safety line attached. Due to the perilous and unstable nature of the terrain where his body was located, rescuers were unable to recover him, and he is presumed to have perished in the fall.
Last Seen: Sep 24, 2011

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Brian Christopher Jones - The Charley Project
  • Recovery effort ends for body of climber who died last week at North ...
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP13276
  • Investigations continue in student's killing, disappearance
  • Eugene climber dies in fall from North Sister - Portland - KGW
  • Missing Person - ABI - AST - Alaska Department of Public Safety
  • What is your take on Brian Jones death? : r/rollingstones - Reddit

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    77%Possible
    John Doe — Florence, Oregon - unidentified case UP97387
    John Doe — Florence, Oregon
    UP97387 • Found Sep 21, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 37 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%49 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10"–6'4" vs 6'0"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

    Latest News

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Does anyone else think it's strange that with all the technological advancements in search and... ...Read More
    04/19/2024
    Does anyone have more information about the companion who was climbing with Brian? It's always been... ...Read More
    12/27/2023

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