Body found in Willamette River identified as missing Junction City man

A kayaker’s discovery along the Willamette River ended a six-month search for Wade Felton Lloyd, the 62-year-old Junction City man reported missing last fall. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Lloyd was identified after his body was recovered May 19 from the west bank of the river near river mile 159, north of Harrisburg.

Deputies responded at about 2:09 p.m., then launched Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol from McCartney Park to recover the remains. Investigators said they identified Lloyd through tattoos. The sheriff’s office also said the exact cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Junction City police had asked for help finding Lloyd after he was last seen Nov. 16, 2025, near Birch Street and 2nd Avenue. In that earlier appeal, officers said Lloyd normally stayed close to home, had close family ties and rode an older motorized bicycle that was also missing. Police described him as a slender white man about 6 feet tall, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and said he was missing his cell phone, wallet and necessary medications.

The case had remained open as a missing-person investigation until the river recovery gave family members and neighbors a painful answer. Deputies said they notified Lloyd’s next of kin after the identification was made. They have not released additional details, citing the ongoing investigation and respect for the family.

For Junction City and much of Lane County, the case also highlights the reach of the Willamette River corridor, where kayakers, boaters and other recreation users can become the first to spot trouble. The recovery point was in Benton County, but the missing-person timeline began in the heart of Junction City, tying the communities together through one long search and one late identification.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ware with the Junction City Police Department at 541-998-1245 and reference case number 202506989.