Search Continues for Missing Brothers on Willamette River

Two anglers remain missing from Riverview Park in Independence.

8-year old Michael Runyon and his brother, 20-year old Alvin Troub. Photo: Independence Police

(INDEPENDENCE, Ore.) - 20-year old Alvin Troub and his brother, 8-year old Michael Runyon, have been missing since Sunday, when they were dropped off by family members at Riverview Park in Independence to go fishing. When family members returned to the park two hours later at 4:00 PM the two could not be found.

Searchers on Monday say they found very few clues into the disappearance of the young fishermen. However, water scent dogs did "alert" in two places in the river. A dive team from Linn County Sheriff's Office dove in one of these areas but found nothing. They reported visibility in the river to be less than a foot, so searching was very difficult.

Today, Chief Vernon Wells says the work continues, in hope of locating the two missing anglers.

"We have renewed the search of the river with three new water scent dogs. We are also going to be assisted by a dive team from Newberg, a boat and eight divers from Clackamus County Sheriff's Office, three divers from Albany, and the Linn County Sheriff's Office boat and divers will be returning."

The Oregon National Guard joined in the search Monday as well, with an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter.

Wells says this morning, the new water scent dogs did alert over the water in a location near the area where the dogs alerted yesterday.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office will continue to head up the search efforts with assistance from Yamhill County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team.

In addition to the water search, two member of Team Adam, investigators from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, arrived and are assisting Independence Police officers investigate any other possible causes for the missing young men.