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Case Description

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Deon Young, a 31-year-old woman from Astoria, Oregon, went missing on April 2, 1984, during a crab-fishing trip on the lower Columbia River. She was one of three individuals aboard a 17-foot wooden dory that disappeared. The others on the boat were 27-year-old Lynn Kassler and 30-year-old Kenneth Cutcher. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the boat or the individuals was found, leading to their cases being classified as missing.

Young was described as a white female, approximately ...Read More
Last Seen: Apr 02, 1984

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Victim Details

Mar 01, 2017

Jan 08, 2024

Deon

Young

71

31

63 inches

130 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

A somber mystery has surrounded the disappearance of 31-year-old Deon Young, who was last seen in Astoria, Oregon, on April 2, 1984. On that day, Young, along with 27-year-old Lynn Kassler and 30-year-old Kenneth Cutcher, set out on the lower Columbia River for a crab fishing trip. The three were aboard a 17-foot wooden dory and were never seen again. The circumstances of their disappearance point to a tragic day on the water, as no trace of the boat or its occupants has ever been found. Young, a woman with blonde or strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes, vanished without a clue, leaving behind a case that has puzzled investigators and her loved ones for decades. The group's fishing excursion on that spring day turned into an enduring enigma. After they failed to return, authorities were notified, and search efforts were launched. However, the vast and powerful Columbia River yielded no signs of the small wooden dory or the three individuals aboard. The complete absence of any wreckage, personal belongings, or any form of communication from Young, Kassler, or Cutcher has been one of the most perplexing aspects of the case. The Oregon State Police in Astoria has maintained the case file, but without any new leads or evidence, the investigation has remained at a standstill for many years. The disappearance of Deon Young, Lynn Kassler, and Kenneth Cutcher is a haunting reminder of the unpredictable nature of the water. With no witnesses to their vessel capsizing or any indication of foul play, the most probable scenario is that they encountered perilous conditions on the river that overwhelmed their small boat. The case remains an open and unsolved missing persons investigation. The families have been left without answers, grappling with the profound uncertainty of their loved ones' final moments. The incident serves as a long-standing and tragic maritime mystery in the history of Clatsop County.

Apr 02, 1984

Astoria

Oregon

Clatsop County

No

34387

Oregon State Police - Astoria Area Command

Warrenton

Oregon

Clatsop County

97146

2320 Southeast Dolphin Avenue, Oregon

5038610781

State

Law Enforcement

813546

Oregon State Police - Astoria Area Command

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

05/29/2026


Area Last Seen: