April 20, 2024 5:40 a.m.
After weeks of searching, the body of Rachel Merchant-Ly was recovered from the North Umpqua River on Friday morning.
Lieutenant Brad O’Dell of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Search and Rescue organized a large-scale search Friday as part of their ongoing efforts to locate the remains of the 27-year-old. O’Dell said Merchant-Ly was reported missing on Thursday February 29th when she didn’t arrive at Glide Elementary School where she worked as a kindergarten teacher. Later that morning a DCSO deputy located signs of a motor vehicle crash near milepost 41 on Highway 138E.
The next day, Merchant-Ly’s vehicle was recovered from the North Umpqua River, but she was not found inside.
O’Dell said since that time, searchers have conducted numerous searches by water, land, and air without success.
Friday’s search included assistance from Search and Rescue crews from Jackson and Lane counties. Volunteer rafting groups and community members also organized and were coordinating with DCSO’s efforts.
O’Dell said at approximately 9:30 a.m. a community member volunteer located a deceased body in the river approximately 7.5 miles downstream from the crash site. Deputies confirmed the presence of the body and began coordinating recovery efforts. The Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and confirmed the body to be that of Rachel Merchant-Ly.
Sheriff John Hanlin said, “I cannot thank the dedicated deputies, SAR volunteers, agency partners and community members who have not given up on finding Rachel”. Hanlin said, “Commissioner Freeman and I have been in personal communication with Rachel’s husband, mother, father and extended family. They are extremely thankful for the efforts of everyone involved”.
O’Dell said DCSO was assisted throughout the investigation by Douglas County, Jackson County and Lane County Search and Rescue teams, the Oregon State Search and Rescue Coordinator, Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, Pacific Power, Weekly Brothers, North Umpqua Outfitters, Northwest Rafters Association, Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and all of the community members who volunteered their time.