Body of Missing Oregon Woman Discovered in Submerged Car

Divers confirm that the submerged car has a body inside, it is probably Dena Kline who has been missing since February 2006.

Dena Kline's car has been discovered submerged in the Willamette River at an Oregon City boat ramp

(OREGON CITY) - The body of a woman missing since February, 2006 has been discovered in an automobile located near the Sports Craft Marina in Oregon City.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Jim Strovink says they are fairly sure 90-year old Dena Daphne Kline's remains have been found submerged in the automobile she was reported missing in, a 1990, Honda, Accord, Teal green in color, with Idaho license plate K332915.

The dive team was called out at approximately 7:43 PM this evening. They have now completed a dive into this body of water and confirm this is the same vehicle Dena Delphine Kline was driving when she disappeared in February, 2006.

Strovink says Clackamas County Sheriff's Marine personnel confirm this vehicle is occupied with a deceased person; although, the identification of this person has not been officially confirmed – it is ‘reasonable to presume' the deceased is that of Dena Kline, said Strovink.

He says the Clackamas County Deputy Medical Examiner is responding to this location and will proceed with the Medical Examiners portion of this death investigation.

Marine Patrol personnel report this recovered automobile has been submerged in approximately 20' of water for a considerable period of time; and with the receding summer month water levels this vehicle became readily apparent to recreational boaters today, who brought this sighting to the attention of Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol personnel.

At the time of her disappearance, Dena Kline was residing on SW Sioux Terrace, in Wilsonville. She was scheduled to arrive for a medical appointment on February 23rd, at Willamette Fall Hospital, in Oregon City; but never arrived.

At the time of her disappearance, a full scale effort was launched by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office to locate the reported missing Dena Kline.

Numerous search efforts included: marine sonar detection along the Willamette River; divers scouring under water near boat ramps along West Linn and Wilsonville; the Oregon Civil Air Patrol dedicating a vast amount of aerial surveillance attempting to locate this missing person; Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue concentrated search efforts in the Canemah area of Oregon City – an area Dena Kline was reported to have been seen. In addition, Clackamas County patrol and detectives inspected countless miles of roadway in hopes of locating Dena Kline and her vehicle.

Jim Strovink says that during this intensified search effort, "news sources were very generous with all the valuable and extensive exposure provided during this all-embracing search effort. This media exposure was very well recognized, and most certainly appreciated by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office."

"This certainly is not the desirable outcome law enforcement and family had hope to achieve; although, this recovery will enable closure from a very heartbreaking set of circumstances," he added.
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Previous Salem-News.com articles on Dena Kilne's disappearance

• Still No Sign of Missing Elderly Oregon Woman
• Police Searching for Missing Elderly Oregon Woman
• Searchers Growing Desperate to Find Missing Elderly Oregon Woman
• Update in Search for Missing Oregon Woman
• Mass Telephone Call System Assists With Search of Missing Oregon Woman