SILETZ, Ore. — Authorities in Oregon intensified their efforts on Sunday to find a young boy who vanished from his yard, last seen playing there the previous day.
The disappearance of 2-year-old Dane Paulsen was reported by his family at approximately 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. In response, officials from the sheriff’s office, along with local fire and police personnel, commenced an extensive search of the property and nearby areas. The search involved both foot patrols and drones equipped with thermal imaging technology, as stated in a social media post by the sheriff’s office.
On the following day, the search continued with dedicated search and rescue teams combing the area to the north of Siletz, a small city located close to the Siletz River. The operation expanded to include the use of drones, search dogs, and watercraft to aid in the search. Volunteers willing to assist were requested to refrain from entering the main search zone to ensure the search could progress unimpeded.
Authorities are also looking into a potential lead involving a late 1990s gold station wagon. This vehicle, which was spotted in the vicinity of the boy’s home around the time he was last seen, has been identified as a “vehicle of interest” by the sheriff’s office. However, Sheriff Adam Shanks emphasized in a local news interview that there is currently no direct evidence linking the vehicle to Dane’s disappearance.
