Search continues Tuesday for female kayaker missing near Monroe, OR
By: Jolene Daib KEZI News
Aprll 26, 2022
MONROE, Ore. – The search continued Tuesday for a female kayaker who has been missing since Saturday on the Long Tom River. On Monday, searchers recovered the body of Joseph Bendix, 26, of Eugene, who had been kayaking with Mariana Dukes, 23, also of Eugene.
The two had gone kayaking Saturday on the Long Tom River near Monroe. A family member called the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Sunday at 8:12 p.m., and reported the couple was overdue.
Deputies searched the river until 11 p.m. Sunday, and continued the search on Monday. The body of Bendix was found in the river at about 9 a.m. about 3 miles south of Monroe, by a landowner.
Tuesday the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and other search teams continued the search for Dukes. The last known contact she had with her family was Saturday just before 5 p.m. About 50 volunteers from nearby agencies are participating in the search.
Body of missing kayaker Mariana Dukes found on the Long Tom River
by KVAL
April 29th 2022
The body of 23-year-old Mariana Dukes of Eugene was recovered from the Long Tom River five days after she and 26-year-old Joseph Bendix failed to return from a kayaking trip on the Long Tom River.
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Benton County Sheriff's Office has announced that the second missing kayaker, 23-year-old Mariana Dukes, was found deceased on the Long Tom River Friday, April 29 after a five day search. According to a statement by the sheriff's office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office was on the scene, south of Monroe, with Mariana’s family, who recovered her body by canoe, approximately 75 yards downriver of a fish ladder in Lane County. “Again I’d like to thank all the agencies and volunteers for their help over the last five days, as well as private property owners who willingly allowed access to the river and their resources,” stated Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall.
Dukes and 26-year-old Joseph Bendix, both of Eugene, launched their kayaks on Saturday, April 23 near Ferguson Road south of Monroe and a family member reported them missing the next day when they didn't arrive at Monroe City Park as planned.
John Ditmars says:
It's a slow-moving river in many spots, faster in others, with not much in the way of rapids. Us locals often surf a wave that comes in from time to time when they let certain flows out of the dam from the reservoir. In general, we tell folks that don't have experience in paddling whitewater to not surf at our spot because the banks are lined with sweepers. The water is cold this time of year.
I spoke with the sheriff today. Seems like the flow was higher than the gauge due to input from tributaries and it’s their belief the hydraulic from the double-sill low head dam is to blame.
