In the early morning hours of November 23, 2025, 47-year-old Lonie Charles Davis Jr. found himself in a perilous situation on the Columbia River, near the mouth of the Skipanon River in Warrenton, Oregon. He had been asleep in a 16-foot open motorboat that was tied to one of his two sailboats anchored in the river. A sudden and unexpected event would set in motion a sequence of distressing events that would lead to his disappearance.
The vast and powerful Columbia River, a waterway known for its challenging conditions, became the backdrop for a developing emergency that would soon involve a desperate call for help and a race against time.
At approximately 4 a.m., a sense of alarm prompted Davis to contact his girlfriend. He reported that the anchor line on his motorboat had broken, and he was now adrift, being carried westward toward the treacherous Columbia River bar. This area, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean, is notorious for its dangerous currents and waves. The situation escalated dramatically about 45 minutes later when he made a second, more frantic call to his girlfriend, stating that his boat had capsized and he was in the water. Shortly after this desperate communication, the phone line went dead, plunging his loved ones into a state of uncertainty and fear.
The United States Coast Guard immediately launched a comprehensive search and rescue operation, deploying both boat and helicopter crews to scour the area. Their efforts led to the discovery of the capsized motorboat near Cape Disappointment, Washington, on the north side of the river's mouth. The Clatsop County Sheriff's Office also joined the search, conducting their own extensive searches by boat and airplane in the hopes of locating any sign of Davis. Despite these exhaustive efforts by multiple agencies, Lonie Davis Jr. was not found. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance highlight the unforgiving nature of the river and the suddenness with which a peaceful night on the water can turn into a life-threatening ordeal. The case remains a somber reminder of the dangers that can arise on the water, leaving a family without answers and a community with a sense of loss.Last Seen: Nov 23, 2025
