Account
Dec 29, 2011
Jan 12, 2024
Robertson
Winters
38
22
68 inches
140 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On May 21, 2008, a young man named Robertson "Chad" Winters, 22 years old at the time, was with friends on the Willamette River in Eugene, Oregon. The group was enjoying the day on a raft when a sudden and tragic accident occurred. The raft they were on capsized in the swift and cold waters of the river. While his companions were able to make it to safety, Winters was swept away by the current and disappeared from sight. This unfortunate event marked the last time anyone saw Robertson Winters. The initial response to the accident was swift, with search and rescue teams being dispatched to the area to look for him. The search for Robertson Winters was an extensive and challenging operation. The Lane County Sheriff's Office, along with various other agencies and volunteers, combed the Willamette River and its banks for any sign of the missing man. The search efforts included the use of boats, dive teams, and aircraft to scan the area where he was last seen and the downstream portions of the river. Despite their exhaustive efforts, the search teams were unable to locate him. The river's cold temperatures and strong currents made the search conditions difficult and dangerous for the rescue crews involved. As days turned into weeks with no sign of Winters, the active search was eventually scaled back, leaving his family and friends with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. The disappearance of Robertson Winters is a heartbreaking case that highlights the dangers of recreational water activities. He is described as a man with dark brown, shoulder-length dreadlocks, and hazel eyes. He had several tattoos, including on both of his hands and his chest. At the time of the accident, he was wearing black bib overalls and a dark-colored shirt. Although the official search was suspended, the case remains open. He is presumed to have drowned in the Willamette River on that tragic day in May. His body has never been recovered, leaving his loved ones without the closure of a final farewell. The circumstances of his disappearance serve as a somber reminder of the power of nature and the preciousness of life.
May 21, 2008
Eugene
Oregon
Lane County
97401
No
11153
Lane County Sheriff's Office
Eugene
Oregon
Lane County
97401
DJ Mann
Sergeant
125 East 8th Avenue, Oregon
5416824150
County
Law Enforcement
LCSO 08-3761
2008-05-21
Lane County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Hazel
Hazel
05/29/2026
