In a sobering development, authorities recovered a body from the Willamette River at Cathedral Park on Saturday, marking it as the second body found this month and the tenth since mid-April in the rivers surrounding the Portland area. The local community is grappling with the implications of this tragic pattern.
While the identity of the deceased has yet to be disclosed, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the frequency of these recoveries within such a brief timeframe is indeed notable. However, they emphasized that this occurrence is not entirely out of the ordinary, as such recoveries tend to increase during this season.
The recent string of body recoveries from the Willamette River and other nearby waterways has sparked significant concern and discussion among residents, local officials, and mental health advocates. The bodies were recovered on the following dates and locations:
April 13: Willamette River near Swan Island
April 15: Multnomah Channel
April 18: Willamette River near St. Johns Bridge
April 24: Columbia River near Hayden Island
April 30: Willamette River near Terminal 4
May 3: Willamette River downtown north of the Steel Bridge
May 3: Willamette River at Cathedral Park
May 3: Columbia River near NE Marine Dr
May 4: Willamette River in Meldrum Bar Park, Gladstone (Not in Portland)
The sheriff’s office explained that the combination of faster river currents and rising water temperatures contributes to the phenomenon. As the water heats up, the decomposition process accelerates, causing the body to become less dense and more buoyant, which increases the likelihood of it surfacing.
