Karen Jean Lee

• Missing Since 05/26/1977
• Missing From Cornelius, Oregon
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Age 15 years old
• Height and Weight 5'7, 128 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics White female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Karen has a scar on her upper lip and a scar on her left knee.

Details of Disappearance

Karen was last seen in Cornelius, Oregon on May 26, 1977. Authorities believe she left with Rodney Grissom, who disappeared two days before she did. The pair reportedly planned to hitchhike to California. They called a friend from a pay phone in Lebanon, Oregon after leaving home, then Karen said, "Our ride is here. I have to go." Karen and Rodney were never heard from again.

Later that year, some of the pair's belongings were found off a logging road in a remote area near Soda Fork in eastern Linn County, Oregon. Police stated the area was "very bad terrain where no sane person would go for a hike or to camp." The items located were wrapped up in a blanket tied with a rope and appeared to have been carried to the spot and deliberately placed there.

The items included Karen's jeans, some pages from her journal, a blouse she'd sewn, one of her shoes, and Rodney's watch, and some of his other things. Karen's jeans appeared to have been cut. The shoe was still laced and tied, and was not the type of shoe that would come off easily. In 1982 in the same general area as before, loggers found additional clothing from the pair, as well as Rodney's wallet and identification.

Although Rodney had no history of running away, Karen had run away once before to the Portland, Oregon area and was gone for three days. She had moved to Oregon from Wisconsin and had trouble adjusting to the move. Foul play is suspected in Karen and Rodney's cases, which remain unsolved.