In the coastal city of Newport, Oregon, a disturbing mystery began to unfold around the disappearance of 30-year-old Ryan Jay Staggs, the owner of a local business known as Happy Motors. Staggs was last seen in late January 2022, with reports indicating his last contact was on January 30th. His disappearance was officially reported to the Newport Police Department in February 2022.
The circumstances leading up to his vanishing were already fraught with peril; months earlier, on August 8, 2021, Staggs had been the victim of a violent attack. An unknown assailant had shot him in the face while he was sleeping in his home. He survived this attempt on his life and was treated at a local hospital before being released. It remains unclear if this violent incident was connected to his subsequent disappearance.
The investigation into Ryan Staggs's whereabouts continued for years, eventually being taken on by the Lincoln County District Attorney's Cold Case Unit in May 2022. Despite numerous tips and leads, the case remained without a significant breakthrough. A notable development occurred in December 2024, when investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Newport, just a few miles from Staggs's home. During this search, cadaver dogs detected the scent of human remains in the soil of the backyard, though no remains were found at that time. This search, however, yielded new information and led to additional witnesses, providing investigators with fresh avenues to explore. The vehicle that belonged to Staggs, which was also missing at the time of his disappearance, was later found and sold at an auction, but Staggs was not with it.
The persistent efforts of law enforcement eventually led to a somber discovery. In early January 2025, investigators were directed to a remote location in Lincoln County where they unearthed a shallow grave containing human remains. These remains were presumed to be those of Ryan Staggs, pending official confirmation from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. This breakthrough led to the arrest of 54-year-old Murphy Calvin Henry II on charges including second-degree murder, second-degree abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. Another individual, Jack David Baird, was also arrested in connection with the case on a charge of abuse of a corpse. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ryan Staggs's death is ongoing, carried out by the Lincoln County Major Crime Team and other assisting law enforcement agencies. This case, which began with a violent, unsolved shooting and evolved into a years-long missing person investigation, has left a peaceful coastal community in shock and searching for answers.Last Seen: Jan 30, 2022
