The death of Dane Paulsen: New details of body found in Siletz River

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – New details about the death of Dane Paulsen are coming to light two days after his remains were discovered in the Siletz River.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference Thursday with more information on how they found the 2-year-old’s body as well as information from the autopsy report.

According to the medical examiner, Dane’s autopsy confirmed that he had died by drowning.

Dane was last seen in the yard of his Siletz home on March 1 around 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that his body was found approximately three miles downstream from the house.

“It’s just a terrible tragedy that happened,” said Buster Lane, a Siletz local. “I feel really sad for the family, I feel real bad for them.”

The child’s body was discovered by Juan Heredia with Angels Recovery Dive Team while he joined a volunteer search effort on behalf of the family.

“I guess the good thing out of it is that they did find his body so they have closure,” Lane said. “Kids like that, they go to heaven — and they have a chance to see him again, his friends, his family.”

Before finding Dane, search and rescue efforts covered hundreds of miles on the ground and in the air — eventually shifting their focus to the Siletz River.

As search efforts intensified, law enforcement said there was “no evidence to suggest criminal actions are involved.” Rather, evidence indicated that Dane had been at the Siletz River’s edge before he vanished, according to investigators.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office previously described Dane as “comfortable around strangers and water,” but added that he “cannot swim.”