PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The search for a missing teenager from the Bethany area was suspended Sunday after he disappeared while duck hunting on the Columbia River.
Riley Salisbury’s love of wildlife is what drew him to the Columbia River. He hunted for ducks with his dad and brothers and took on wildlife taxidermy projects and drawing detailed sketches of birds.
“Pages and pages and pages, so this was very important to him, so he did this taxidermy and he loved every minute of it,” mom Loralee said.
Riley, 19, was hunting with his dad, Todd, and younger brother Saturday near Karlson, Russian and Minraker Islands.
Riley had paddled a few minutes away from his dad and younger brother in a small boat but when they went to find him, he had vanished.
“At that point in time I became alarmed,” Todd told KOIN 6 News Sunday evening. “We didn’t see the boat, we didn’t see him.”
Todd called 911 and a massive search by air and water began.
Crews from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and Coast Guard searched Saturday evening and through the night but were not able to find Riley.
The found Riley’s gun on Karlson Island and his boat was floating about a mile away from Russian Island with his bag and cell phone still inside.
“It was literally like someone picked him straight up out of his position and carried him away because there was no sign off any type of struggle,” Todd said.
The Coast Guard said they searched by helicopter and boat for 19 hours but the search was suspended Sunday night with no plans for an official search Monday.
“He’s still missing and they found the boat and the gun and it’s fully loaded and so I don’t know what happened,” Loralee said. “Maybe he put down the gun to go catch the boat before it floated away and he didn’t quite get it, or I don’t know, but still the point is he’s still not here.”
Loralee Salisbury: He’s still missing and they found the boat and the gun and it’s fully loaded, so I don’t know what happened. Maybe he put down the gun to go catch the boat before it floated away and he didn’t quite get it, but the point is he’s still not here. #koin6news pic.twitter.com/bC3DRNbpbE— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) January 14, 2019
Todd and Loralee thanked those who came out to help in the search, from the Coast Guard to the 911 operator who personally came to the docks to support them.
Todd Salisbury: Huge praise to the Clatsop Co. Sheriff’s Dept. & the 911 dispatcher. After she got off work she came down to the docks. It was beautiful to see the display of humanity from the coast guard & the individuals that worked with me while we were out there #koin6news pic.twitter.com/NhMpuplVrG— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) January 14, 2019
On Monday, the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office said they conducted a large search along with the US Coast Guard through the night but did not find Riley.
“We are still hoping for the best but this is a large and often treacherous river with winter conditions,” Sheriff Tom Bergin said in a statement. “The family has been notified the search was suspended based on what has been located and have been very cooperative. I wish I had better news, but again we have not been able to locate the young man.”
The Salisburys said while authorities have suspended their search, they hope other hunters, fishermen or boaters will keep a eye out for their son. He was wearing waders and a fleece camouflage top.
“It would be really great if I could at least have closure,” Loralee said. “Even though I know the situation didn’t turn out good, but if we could have closure that would be nice.”