Lane County Sheriff's Search & Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate 61-year-old Robert Ray Bennett II, who has been missing since December 28, 2024. Bennett, a resident of Cottage Grove, was last seen standing on the bank of Brice Creek near a campsite east of Cedar Creek Campground on Brice Creek Road, east of Disston, approximately 50 miles southeast of Eugene.
After further investigation, authorities believe Bennett fell into Brice Creek, which was experiencing historically high flow rates at the time. The fast-moving waters have posed challenges for search efforts. Since the search began, teams have extensively combed the area using drones, K9 units, and ground searchers.
As water levels in the area gradually recede, search operations have expanded beyond Brice Creek to include the Row River and Dorena Lake. Despite the ongoing efforts, Bennett remains missing.
Robert Ray Bennett II is described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 165 pounds, with white hair, brown eyes, and stubble facial hair. He has a hunched posture and issues with mobility, which may have contributed to the incident. He was last seen wearing a maroon coat, a black shirt, suspenders, tan Wrangler pants, and cowboy boots.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office continues to urge anyone with information about Bennett’s whereabouts to come forward. Search & Rescue remains committed to bringing closure to Bennett’s loved ones as they navigate this difficult time.
