Names Released, Search Continuing For Man Missing Off South Jetty at Yaquina Bay

South Jetty Newport, Oregon Picasa Photo

(Portland, Oregon) - Oregon State Police have identified the two people who were washed off the end of South Jetty at Yaquina Bay near Newport Wednesday afternoon.

The body of a 33-year old woman was recovered but her 34-year old husband's body has not been found. Search efforts were called off Wednesday evening due to darkness and rough ocean conditions but will resume Thursday morning along the beach.

The couple's names are being released in this update following completion of next of kin notifications.

According to OSP Lieutenant Mike Turner, the couple is identified as Michael Ray Myers, age 34, and Kathryn Vancil Myers, age 33, from southeast Portland. The couple reportedly traveled to Newport earlier in the week to celebrate their anniversary and had checked out of a local hotel Wednesday morning. The couple rode their bicycles to the beach before walking out onto the jetty. Two independent witnesses reported seeing the couple walking toward the end of the jetty. One witness said he last saw the couple holding onto a light pole at the end of the jetty when a large wave swept them into the water.

On November 10, 2010 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Oregon State Police, US Coast Guard, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Newport Police Department and local fire and rescue personnel responded to a report that a man and woman were washed off the end of the South Jetty into the ocean near South Beach State Park.

At approximately 1:13 p.m. US Coast Guard personnel spotted a woman's body about 40 yards southwest of the jetty in the ocean and retrieved her from the water. Kathryn Myers was taken by boat to the local Coast Guard station where she was pronounced deceased.

Searchers working from the air, water and ground spent the afternoon searching for the man's body but have not located him. Michael Myers is missing and presumed to have drowned. Search efforts stopped Wednesday evening. US Coast Guard advised they will continue searching Thursday morning along the beach. Questions regarding their search and ocean conditions should be directed to the Yaquina Bay Coast Guard Station at (541) 265-5381.

Source: Oregon State Police