The Mystery Of Fauna Frey Remains Unsolved Six Years After She Vanished In Oregon

by | Jun 14, 2026 | News

Share This Article

Six years ago this month, Fauna Frey left her home in Dexter and headed toward Southern Oregon.

She never came back.

What began as a trip to visit friends and honor the memory of her recently deceased brother has become one of Oregon's most haunting unsolved missing person cases. Six years after her disappearance, Fauna's family is still searching for answers, investigators are still accepting tips, and a father continues to fight for the daughter he refuses to give up on.

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward

For many Oregonians, Fauna's story is impossible to forget.

The details are strange. The timeline is puzzling. The clues seem to raise more questions than answers. And despite years of searches, media coverage, podcasts, and public appeals, nobody knows what happened to the 45-year-old woman after she was last seen in Josephine County in June of 2020.

A Trip Rooted In Grief

The days leading up to Fauna's disappearance were marked by unimaginable loss.

On June 19, 2020, Fauna discovered her brother Dallas unresponsive in his home. She attempted CPR, but he died from heart failure. Family members have said the loss devastated her.

According to her father, John Frey, Fauna planned a trip to the Grants Pass area shortly afterward. She wanted to personally notify several of Dallas' friends about his death and deliver gifts that had belonged to him.

Among those possessions was a collection of silver bullion coins that would later become one of the most discussed details in the case.

On June 27, 2020, Fauna left Dexter and headed south.

No one knew it would be the last time they would see her.

The Final Known Days

The timeline investigators have pieced together paints a picture of someone moving throughout Josephine County while trying to complete a deeply personal mission.

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward
This is the woman identified as the hitchhiker Fauna picked up on June 28. It's important to note that this "Attempt to Locate" by the sheriff's office is UNRELATED to the case. Wytcherley was found safe on 6/16/25.

On June 28, Fauna stopped in Wolf Creek and spent time with friends connected to her brother. At some point that day she picked up a female hitchhiker near Wilderville, something family members say was extremely out of character for her.

The hitchhiker was later identified, interviewed by investigators, and publicly cleared of involvement.

That evening, Fauna checked into a Super 8 motel in Grants Pass.

Her father later recalled that she sounded upset and disoriented during a phone call. She reportedly told him she was uncomfortable at the motel and intended to find somewhere else to stay the following night.

Afterward, she went shopping for clothing, toiletries, and supplies.

The next morning she checked out.

Over the course of June 29, she withdrew cash, purchased outdoor items at Big 5 Sporting Goods, bought food at Gooseberries Market, and called the Weasku Inn to reserve a room for that evening.

She never arrived.

The reservation remains one of the final documented actions attributed to her.

After that, the trail goes cold.

In 2023, John Frey told Newsweek, "Well, we know that she was on Fish Hatchery Road because when she called me the night after she left. She talked to me about the hitchhiker, and giving her a ride. Right in that area is where the saddlebag with her name stamped on it was found. We had a sighting from reputable people who said that they saw Fauna in a white BMW coming out of a driveway on Fish Hatchery. They gave me the address and said that there were some dopers, and they were having a lot of problems with this address. I started checking the place out, so months went by, and this property changed hands twice, so it was sold to new people. The new people called us and said that the saddlebag was left there. They knew from flyers about Fauna, so they said, "this is weird." And it was."

The Jeep Found Deep In The Woods

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward
Front and back views of the interior of Fauna's 2000 Jeep Cherokee.

For nearly three months there was no sign of Fauna.

Then, on September 23, 2020, her blue 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee was discovered abandoned roughly six miles above Grave Creek Boat Landing in a remote area outside Grants Pass.

The location immediately raised questions.

Family members have said the rugged terrain was not somewhere Fauna would normally travel alone.

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward
Fauna's 2000 Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep was locked and appeared largely intact.

Inside were numerous personal belongings, including clothing, toiletries, a VHS copy of The Lion King, and a box of dark hair dye that reportedly had not been used. Her cell phone, however, was missing.

So were the silver coins.

Investigators found no obvious signs of a struggle.

But there was also no sign of Fauna.

No trace.

No explanation.

Just an abandoned vehicle hidden in the mountains.

One lingering question involves evidence recovered from Fauna's Jeep. Over the years, supporters following the case have noted that investigators collected fingerprints from the vehicle, but no public announcement has been made regarding the results of that analysis. Community advocates working to keep Fauna's story in the public eye have emphasized that they are unable to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and continue to express appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement.

The Silver Coins And The Saddlebag

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward
Fauna's saddlebag, which may have contained the collection of silver coins.

As years passed, additional details emerged that renewed public interest in the case.

In 2023, John Frey revealed that Fauna had been carrying a substantial quantity of silver bullion coins that had belonged to her brother. According to information shared publicly through interviews and podcast appearances, she may have had thousands of dollars worth of silver with her when she disappeared.

Fauna Frey, Missing Oregon Woman, Grants Pass, Josephine County, 2020, Silver Coins, Saddlebag, Vanished Without A Trace, Cold Case, Unsolved Mysteries, Cash Reward
The silver Buffalo Head Nickels could be an important clue.

Then there was the saddlebag.

A repurposed leather saddlebag bearing Fauna's name was later discovered near a property off Fish Hatchery Road, an area tied to her final known movements. The bag appeared to have been modified and may have been used to carry the silver coins.

Its discovery sparked a new wave of questions.

How did it get there?

Who handled it?

Was it intentionally left behind?

Or was it simply another coincidence in a case already filled with them?

To this day, those questions remain unanswered.

The White BMW Sighting

One of the more intriguing leads involves a reported sighting of Fauna in a white BMW near Fish Hatchery Road.

According to statements made by her father during later interviews, witnesses claimed they saw a woman believed to be Fauna emerging from a driveway associated with a property that had generated concerns in the area.

The sighting has never been publicly confirmed by law enforcement.

Still, it remains one of the most talked-about elements of the investigation.

Whether it represents a genuine clue or a dead end remains unknown.

A Case That Refuses To Fade Away

Unlike many missing person cases that quietly disappear from public attention, Fauna's story continues to resonate across Oregon.

Over the years, her disappearance has been featured on multiple investigative podcasts and true-crime programs, bringing renewed attention to the case and generating fresh tips.

Community volunteers have conducted searches.

Advocates have distributed flyers.

Social media groups continue discussing theories and possible leads.

And through it all, John Frey has remained at the center of the search.

Few fathers have fought as tirelessly for answers.

For six years he has spoken with reporters, worked with private investigators, participated in podcasts, organized searches, and kept his daughter's story in the public eye.

His message has remained remarkably consistent.

He does not believe Fauna simply walked away.

The Questions That Remain

Six years later, there are still no definitive answers.

Was Fauna the victim of foul play?

Did someone learn she was carrying valuable silver?

Did she encounter the wrong person while traveling through Josephine County?

Was her disappearance connected to someone she met during her trip?

Or is there another explanation entirely that investigators have yet to uncover?

Every theory has supporters.

None have been proven.

What remains undeniable is that a woman vanished, her vehicle was found abandoned in a remote area, and her family has spent six years waiting for the phone call they've never received.

Six Years Without Answers

For most of us, six years is enough time to watch a child grow up, complete high school, or start a new chapter in life.

For the Frey family, it has been six years of uncertainty.

Six years of wondering.

Six years of searching.

Today, as another anniversary passes, Fauna's loved ones continue to ask the public not to forget her.

Someone may remember a conversation.

Someone may know what happened.

Someone may hold the missing piece that finally brings answers.

And until that day comes, the question remains the same as it was on June 29, 2020:

Where is Fauna Frey?

Have Information?

For six years, John Frey has dedicated himself to finding his daughter. He has funded private investigations, offered substantial reward money, searched remote terrain, walked trails where others never looked, and worked tirelessly to keep Fauna's story in the public eye through interviews, podcasts, vigils, and media outreach.

Fauna Frey has been missing since June 27, 2020.

Through it all, one belief has never changed. John does not believe Fauna chose to disappear, nor does he believe she was suicidal. He describes his daughter as spiritual, intelligent, and deeply sensitive, a woman devastated by the sudden loss of her brother but still focused on the purpose that brought her to Southern Oregon. She had friends expecting to see her, valuable silver coins she intended to deliver, and plans she was actively carrying out. To John, those facts point to a woman moving forward with a mission, not someone preparing to vanish. Six years later, he remains convinced that something happened to Fauna after she arrived in Josephine County.

Anyone with information regarding Fauna Frey's disappearance is encouraged to contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office or email [email protected].

Even the smallest detail could matter.


Share This Article

Written By Danielle Denham

Danielle Denham is an award-winning and published photographer who loves her home state of Oregon. Recently she was featured on a regional-Emmy-winning episode of Oregon Field Guide, and is currently writing a book on Abandoned Oregon. When she isn't out and about exploring for derelict places to photograph, you may find her hanging around in Eugene Oregon with Tyler Willford and his two awesome kiddos.

Related Articles

Oregon Man Arrested For Luring a Minor Through Snapchat

Oregon Man Arrested For Luring a Minor Through Snapchat

A months-long investigation into alleged online contact with a teenager has resulted in the arrest of a Wilsonville man, and investigators believe there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward. The Linn County Sheriff's Office announced that 34-year-old...

Gov. Tina Kotek Debuts Bold New Purple Mohawk

Gov. Tina Kotek Debuts Bold New Purple Mohawk

PORTLAND, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shocked residents this week after unveiling a dramatic new purple mohawk during a public appearance, prompting widespread confusion over whether the hairstyle was a personal choice, a political statement, or the result of an...

X