In the summer of 2022, a camping trip turned into a tragedy that ended the life of 16-year-old Gabrielle Michelle "Gabby" Roe, a White female from Caldwell, Idaho. Gabby, who had Down syndrome, and her 51-year-old mother, Dawna Faye Roe, were reported missing on July 6, 2022, after embarking on what family and friends described as an uncharacteristic camping trip for Dawna.
The two were last seen in June before they disappeared, sparking concern for their safety.
The search for Gabby and her mother came to a sorrowful conclusion on July 7, 2022. Their bodies were discovered inside Dawna's 2004 Toyota van in a remote area on public land northwest of Drewsey, Oregon, near the Grant and Harney County line. Employees of the Silvies Ranch who were working in the area first spotted the van and reported a deceased individual inside to the Harney County Dispatch. When law enforcement from Grant and Harney County Sheriff's Offices arrived, they found a second body concealed within the vehicle.
The investigation into their deaths pointed to a murder-suicide. Authorities determined that Dawna Roe had shot and killed her daughter, Gabby, before taking her own life. Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram stated that the deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide by gunshot. The family attributed the tragic events to Dawna's struggles with mental illness. According to Gabby's sister, their mother had an undiagnosed mental illness, and she believed the tragedy could have been prevented. Following the discovery, the Major Crimes Team, including investigators from the Oregon State Police, was activated to process the scene. Law enforcement officials stated that there was no ongoing threat to the public and that no other individuals were being sought in connection with the deaths.
