Body Recovered in Keizer May be Missing Salem Woman

The State Medical Examiner’s Office has tentatively identified a body found Tuesday in Keizer as Ms. Leslie Diane Kaltenbach.

Salem-News.com

(KEIZER, Ore.) - Family members of Leslie Kaltenbach contacted the Keizer Police Department on April 18th at 10:50 AM to report her as missing. Police now believe that a body recovered yesterday is that of Ms. Kaltenbach.

She was supposed to have visited a family member in Oregon City on the night of April 4th, but never arrived there.

Keizer Police Captain Jeff Kuhns says the time she was reported missing her family had any contact with her for two weeks, something they stated was out of character for her.

"Although she did not live with any family members, the Keizer Police Department was told she had continual contact with them on a regular basis prior to her disappearance."

Ms. Kaltenbach was a divorced mother from Salem who had two teenage children, a son and a daughter. According to reports, she always made visiting with her children a priority – something that had not happened since her disappearance.

Ms. Kaltenbach, who was unemployed, was living at 115 Sandy Drive North in Keizer when she was last seen alive.

Kuhns says that after checking the routine places for Ms. Kaltenbach with unsuccessful results, such as the residences of friends/family, hospitals, jails, etc., the Keizer Police Department continued investigating her disappearance as being suspicious in nature.

On Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 at about 2:15 p.m. members of the Marion County Search and Rescue Team who were assisting with this investigation discovered human remains near the 8500 block of Windsor Island Road North.

Today an autopsy was performed at the State Medical Examiner’s Office where the deceased subject was tentatively identified as Ms. Leslie Diane Kaltenbach. Positive identification is pending. Ms. Kaltenbach’s immediate family has been advised of these findings and of the continuing investigation.

The cause of Ms. Kaltenbach’s death is not being released at this time, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office has not issued their final report. Kuhns says this process may take between three and six weeks.

"The investigation is continuing at this time. Several individuals have been contacted and interviewed. This too is continuing. The Keizer Police Department is being assisted by several other local law enforcement agencies."

Anyone having information about this investigation is encouraged to call Det. Tim Lathrop at 503-390-3713 Ext. 3481.