Woman missing at Cougar Dam

BLUE RIVER: Megan Ryan, a 28-year-old woman reported missing on September 13th, was located Tuesday morning by private contractors off USFS Road 19 near Cougar Reservoir.  The contractors had been working on a spur road off Road 19, also known as Aufderheide Drive.

Searchers had been looking for her after receiving a missing person report at approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday.

According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Ryan had gone to Cougar Dam with friends and was later reported missing.

The contractors heard about a missing female last seen in the area, on the radio earlier in the day.  When they saw a woman matching the description of the missing person, they contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Police said Ryan was mildly hypothermic and hungry after having been out in the elements for two days.  The contractors gave her food and extra clothing to help keep her warm until she was able to be transported back to Eugene.

Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives led the missing person investigation and Lane County Search and Rescue headed up the ground search efforts.   Search and Rescue had been actively searching for the woman since she was reported missing.  The Search and Rescue Explorer Scouts as well as Eugene Mountain Rescue teams were deployed to search the area, and were assisted by four 4-wheel drive vehicles used to canvass the area.

Ms. Ryan was transported back to Eugene Tuesday morning where she was reunited with her family.