River combed; no new clues to missing man
Last modified: November 09. 2009 7:19AM PST
more photos
Searchers with Deschutes County Search and Rescue look for clues Saturday morning in the spillway beneath the Pacific Power and Light Dam on the Deschutes River near Newport Avenue in Bend.
A five-hour search of the Deschutes River on Saturday turned up no clues into the disappearance of Justin Burkhart, the 28-year-old Bend man who vanished a little more than three months ago.
Around 35 divers and other volunteers from the Deschutes County Search and Rescue team searched the hydroelectric dam and spillway north of Newport Avenue between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., according to a news release from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. The search was conducted to help the Bend Police Department with its investigation. Pacific Power and Light, which operates the dam, assisted searchers by lowering the water levels.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 1, Burkhart left his apartment just south of downtown Bend to get something to eat. He was last spotted walking near Harmon Park on the west side of the footbridge across the river.
Friends and family have organized a candlelight vigil for Burkhart at the west end of the footbridge at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 15.
— Scott Hammers, The Bulletin
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more articles are available only to E-Edition members. Sign up today!
