Despite extensive efforts, the individual has not yet been located. Search efforts are resuming Sunday morning. The missing individual was last seen operating a blue hard-shell kayak. His identity is being withheld pending further developments. The Sheriff’s Office will release additional updates when available.
20-year-old California man identified as kayaker missing after going over Willamette Falls
by Matthew Nuttle
Thu, April 17th 2025
OREGON CITY, Ore. (KATU) — The kayaker missing after going over Willamette Falls late Saturday night has been identified as 20-year-old Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez of Porterville, Calif.
Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a kayaker in distress just before 11 p.m. Saturday. The caller reported seeing the kayaker struggling against the current near the falls. Call from homeless camp describes kayaker going over Willamette Falls
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Rodriguez and his family were on vacation and arrived in the area on the day of the incident. Rodriguez was not from the area and may not have known that the falls were there, investigators said.
A witness told investigators they saw Rodriguez go over the falls and not resurface. Crews from several agencies responded by air, water, and on the ground to search for Rodriguez. Around 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted Rodriguez’s blue hard-shell kayak, which was then recovered by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit. Since then, there has been no sign of Rodriguez.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is continuing to search the river, officials said. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office issued the following statement on Thursday:
We, the family of Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, are truly devastated by the tragic event that unfolded this past Saturday in the Willamette Falls area, and we would not wish this experience on anyone. Our family is making every effort to heal and come to terms with our loss.
We would like to first warn others to always be aware of their surroundings and to NEVER enter this river without wearing a life jacket or, at the very least, exercising extreme caution, as the forces of nature can quickly become overwhelming and deadly.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the teams of first responders who rushed to our aid and continue to search for our boy. We also thank the locals and fishermen out on the water who have been watchful and helpful during this difficult time. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has treated us with care and compassion, and we are forever grateful for their efforts.
Marcelus loved God, his family, and nature. We hope that this tragic accident can be avoided in the future for other families. May God keep watch over Marcelus and bless him always.
OREGON CITY, Ore. — Investigators have turned up more information about the missing kayaker who went over the Willamette Falls in Oregon City, but the search for him has continued without success, as of Thursday.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Marine Unit said people camping near the railroad tracks in Oregon City first spotted the kayaker in distress about 200-300 feet away from them, while the kayaker was still about 200 feet from Willamette Falls sometime before 11 p.m. Saturday.
Investigators said they believe the 20-year-old kayaker — identified as Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez of Porterville, Calif. — put in at the floating house rentals just south of the Willamette Falls Scenic Viewpoint, where he was staying with family. They believe Rodriguez set out on the river at about 10 p.m., shortly after arriving in Oregon City.
"We don't know why he went out at that time and why he went out so late," said Sgt. Nate Thompson with the Marine Unit. "They had just gotten to the area, and they were unfamiliar with the area."
Thompson said Rodriguez had only kayaked a couple times on lakes, adding that the family may not have known that there was a waterfall near their rental. Witnesses reported seeing the man jump out of his kayak and try to swim upstream before they both went over the falls.
Thompson said at least one witness heard some yelling. A witness was on the phone with 911 dispatchers when they saw Rodriguez frantically rowing away from the falls, not far from a concrete block near the Oregon City side of the river. While still on the call, the witness saw Rodriguez jump into the water and try to swim to safety. Thompson said the kayak went over the falls, followed by Rodriguez.
"There are a lot of signs warning there is a waterfall ahead in this section of the river; most are 6 to 8 feet tall. I don't know what kind of lighting he had, if any," Thompson said.
Body found on Oregon river shore believed to be missing California kayaker
Published: May. 05, 2025
Oregonlive.com
20-year-old Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez of Porterville, California, disappeared over Willamette Falls on April 12.
A body found along the Willamette River shore on Sunday is believed to be 20-year-old Californian Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, officials said. Rodriguez accidentally went over Willamette Falls in a kayak on April 12 and has been missing since.
Deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit reached the body, discovered just north of Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone, on Sunday shortly after 1 p.m., authorities said.
