Missing Oregon Woman: Police Suspend Search For Allyson Watterson After Exhausting Leads

Police in Washington County, Oregon, announced Saturday that they would be suspending their search for 20-year-old Allyson Watterson, who went missing Monday.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which had been searching for five days for Watterson, said that they would resume searching soon but that all current leads had been exhausted with no results. Roughly 1,600 acres have been scoured in the search.

“If I believed she was in an area I could find her, this wouldn’t be getting suspended,” Search and Rescue commander Tony Morris said in a statement. “We’ve just chased everything we had.”

Members of the public have been urged not to continue searching for Watterson on their own while the investigation is suspended.

Early in the initial search, police announced that they had discovered certain items that would help them narrow their search area. The exact nature of the items or the area they led authorities to have not been disclosed.

Watterson was last seen on the afternoon of Dec. 22 near the town of North Plains. A resident in the area reported seeing her with her boyfriend, Benjamin Garland.

Garland was found sleeping in his vehicle Monday and his father later filed the missing person report for Watterson, claiming that he and his son already spent the day searching for her.

Garland claims that he and Watterson got separated from each other while hiking. Police have since said that there is no evidence that this was the case.

Garland was arrested later on charges unrelated to his girlfriend’s disappearance. These included charges of fraudulent use of a stolen credit card, theft, possession of a vehicle, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Anyone with information regarding Watterson and her whereabouts is encouraged to call the Washington County Sheriff’s 24-hour tip line at (503) 846-2700.