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40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 27, 2003 DNA test confirms drowned woman’s identity Sheriff’s deputy’s tenacity helps secure closure for family, search participants By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune In September 1998, a young woman slipped into the Rogue River Gorge near Union Creek and was swept away. Her disappearance pulled searchers and investigators into a quest for answers that ended this week when DNA testing confirmed that a skull fragment found last year along the river belonged to Camie Rayleen Johnson, a 23-year-old from Bend who disappeared Sept. 3, 1998. Johnson, a college athlete and avid outdoorswoman, was swept into the river when she tried to rescue her golden retriever, Jackson, who had plunged toward the water, investigators concluded in 1998. A truck driver told investigators that he saw a young woman slip off the trail, and a tourist reported seeing her disappear over a set of falls, Jackson County sheriff’s detective Dan Hobbs said. "The family got a death certificate, but they had a tough time getting closure," he said. Advertisement The case also hit searchers and investigators hard. "It’s tough to figure out why it had such an impact," Hobbs said. "She was so young. She was trying to save her pet and it was just a tragic accident." Rescuers saved the dog, who went to live with Johnson’s parents in Bend, he said. Family members could not be reached for comment for this story. Search crews watched the river around the clock for five days after Johnson’s disappearance, search manager Keith Stockebrand said. Divers and searchers in boats probed the waters repeatedly over the next two months, but found nothing. In September 2002, a fisherman downstream from the gorge found a skull fragment, spurring the investigation on. Searchers combed the riverbanks and divers returned to the waters in search of other clues. Meanwhile, Hobbs tried to identify the skull. Experts told him laboratory tests would be costly and possibly inconclusive. Because of a budget crunch, a state crime lab DNA program focused only on criminal matters, he said. Then, officials with the program said they could run the tests if a medical examiner ordered it. Hobbs presented evidence from the case to Jackson County medical examiner Dr. James Olson, who endorsed the need for the testing. Then they convinced a state forensic doctor, Hobbs said. In June, Hobbs went to the state crime lab in Portland and met with the lab director to plead his case. "One of the selling points when I sat down with the lab director was the thousands of man-hours put in on this case," he said. The testing finally went forward, comparing DNA from the skull with that in saliva samples from Johnson’s mother in Bend and a brother in the Portland area. The confirmation was returned this week, Hobbs said. After notifying Johnson’s family, Hobbs called Stockebrand, knowing that the case had grabbed the search volunteer. "We burnt a lot of hours on this," Stockebrand said. "It affected lots of people." He passed the message to firefighters, Forest Service workers and others involved in the searches. "It feels real good," he said. "I’m happy for the family. Now they can have closure." Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times