Account
Dec 12, 2008
Jan 08, 2024
Sashidharan
Chirukandoth
76
55
67 inches
140 lbs
Other
Male
In the winter of 2003, 55-year-old Sashidharan P. Chirukandoth, known to some as "Sashi," was embracing a new chapter of his life in Oregon. Originally from India, he had moved from Michigan to Springfield, where he had found work in the wood products industry. An adventurous and experienced kayaker, he was drawn to the natural beauty of his new home. On December 23, 2003, he took his kayak to the beautiful but challenging McKenzie River in Lane County. At approximately 3:50 p.m., in the vicinity of Partridge Lane in Eugene, the unthinkable happened. While navigating the river, his kayak overturned, casting him into the cold water. At the time of the incident, he was believed to be wearing a green and black coat over a shirt with green pants. The hours that followed Sashidharan's disappearance were filled with urgent and exhaustive search efforts by the Lane County Sheriff's Office. Rescue teams scoured the river and its banks, hoping for any sign of the missing kayaker. The search was extensive, but the powerful currents and the vast, rugged landscape of the area presented significant challenges. As days turned into weeks, and with no sign of Sashidharan, the initial hope of a rescue began to fade, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions and the heavy burden of uncertainty. His case eventually grew cold, a painful reality for those who knew and cared for him. For years, the case remained in a state of limbo, a quiet and unresolved tragedy. Then, in June 2010, a significant breakthrough occurred. Fishermen on an island in the McKenzie River, near Camp Creek Road, discovered a human jawbone. The Lane County Sheriff's Office was notified, and investigators, along with the state Medical Examiner's office, began the difficult task of identification. Through a comparison with dental records, the jawbone was positively identified as belonging to Sashidharan P. Chirukandoth. Following this discovery, dive teams were dispatched to search the river for any other remains, but none were ever located. While the discovery of his jawbone brought a partial resolution to the long and agonizing mystery, it also confirmed the tragic outcome of his final kayaking trip. The case, which had been a missing person investigation for over six years, was reclassified, bringing a somber end to the search for Sashidharan.
Dec 23, 2003
Eugene
Oregon
Lane County
No
6732
Lane County Sheriff's Office
Eugene
Oregon
Lane County
97401
DJ Mann
Sergeant
125 East 8th Avenue, Oregon
5416824150
County
Law Enforcement
03-11815
Lane County Sheriff's Office
5487
Gray or Partially Gray
Brown
Brown
No
05/18/2026
