PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A family is desperate for answers after their loved one was found dead at the Oregon Zoo days after attending a concert there.
Carl Ross Sr. was seeing one of his favorite bands Saturday night — but he never made it home.
“When you go to a concert or a venue, at the end of the day no person should lose their life going to enjoy themselves,” his nephew Hollis McClure said.
The 62-year-old’s body was found Monday morning in the construction site of the new rhino exhibit — which doesn’t have any animals in it.
Loved ones say Ross would do just about anything for anyone.
Ross’ good friend Glenn Miller was at the concern with him.
“We did a lot of things together, concerts and events,” Miller said.
Miller said they got separated and when he couldn’t find Ross after the concert, he started to worry. He waited and waited but never ran across him.
“This was very out of the ordinary,” Miller said.
Miller said they were really close and “Carl was a person who would help anybody.”
“He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back,” Miller said.
Ross was a deacon at his church, a volunteer, a husband, father and grandfather.
Police are investigating how he died while his family retraces his steps at the zoo trying to get answers.
“I don’t have any theories but I know that something horrible, very very horrible happened,” his sister Perlia Bell said. “I think there’s a whole lot that needs to be answered.”
Bell said someone needs to be held accountable so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
The Oregon Zoo provided the following statement about the incident:
“The Oregon Zoo community is shocked and saddened by this news. We have limited information at this point and are not speculating as to what may have happened, but we are cooperating with Portland Police. The zoo can confirm that no animals, staff or contractors were involved, and there does not appear to have been any foul play.”
Anyone with information that could help investigators should call 503.823.3333.