Rodney Lynn Grissom

• Missing Since 05/24/1977
• Missing From Albany, Oregon
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 05/30/1962 (63)
• Age 14 years old
• Height and Weight 5'2, 100 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description Carrying a framed backpack with "R. Grissom" written on it.
• Distinguishing Characteristics White male. Brown hair, blue eyes.

Details of Disappearance

Rodney was last seen in Albany, Oregon on May 24, 1977. Authorities believe he left with Karen Lee, who disappeared two days after he 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.

At the time of his disappearance, Rodney's mother in Bend, Oregon had legal custody of him, but he had been living with his father for about six months. 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.

Rodney was initially reported to the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon in 1977. He was reported missing to the Linn County Sheriff's Office in 2012. Foul play is suspected in Karen and Rodney's cases, which remain unsolved.