In the spring, a 14-year-old boy named Chayton Owings, also known by the street name 'Jabber,' vanished from Tigard, Oregon. It was on March 19th that he was last seen, a day that marked the beginning of a period of uncertainty and concern for his well-being. Chayton was described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing around 102 pounds, with short, unevenly cut brown hair and blue-gray eyes.
The Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division, issued a public plea for assistance in locating him, expressing their belief that he was in danger. Authorities suspected he might be in the Portland metro area, particularly along the Eastbank Esplanade and near homeless encampments around the Hawthorne Bridge. The Tigard Police Department opened an investigation, and a report was also filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This was not the first time concerns for Chayton's safety had been raised. The Oregon Department of Human Services had previously issued alerts when he went missing. In one instance, at the age of 13, he was reported missing from foster care in Portland and was thought to frequent forest areas in the metro's outskirts. In another incident when he was 11, after being reported missing by his foster parents, he was located by police near a homeless encampment. During that encounter, he fled from officers and jumped into the Willamette River, necessitating a rescue operation before he was returned to the care of DHS. These events highlighted a pattern of vulnerability and the repeated challenges in ensuring his safety and well-being.
Tragically, the search for Chayton came to a heartbreaking end. On May 4, 2026, he was found deceased on Portland's Eastbank Esplanade, in the very area where authorities had suspected he might be. Officers responded to a call at approximately 11:20 a.m. near Southeast Salmon Street and discovered his body. While the official cause of death was pending a report from the Medical Examiner, preliminary findings from detectives suggested a suspected fentanyl overdose. This devastating outcome underscored the grave dangers faced by vulnerable youth and brought a sorrowful conclusion to the search for Chayton Owings. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the complex issues surrounding at-risk children and the tragic consequences that can result.Last Seen: Mar 19, 2026
