Search Continues for Missing Bend Woman

The search for a missing Bend woman will continue later this week, as search and rescue teams return to the Deschutes River.

Bend police continue to search for 46-year old Carol Ray after her car was found abandoned last Wednesday morning at the Lava Island Trailhead.

Police have remained tight-lipped about any details related to the case, and have not ruled out foul play.

“It’s always difficult to say there’s no foul play involved until you find a person,” Lt. Paul Kansky said Monday. “We’re not willing to say there’s no foul play involved at all.”

Ray’s husband reported her missing last week, after finding her car abandoned the search began.

“You know the searchers are continuing in that area,” said Kansky, “on the banks as well as the water.”

Police won’t tell NewsChannel 21 if Ray left a note before she disappeared, but did say they feel they have a pretty good idea of what may have happened to her.

Still they need some pieces to come together before they go public with anything.

“We have spoken to witnesses that have observed or saw Carol Ray in the area that her vehicle was found during that time,” Kansky said, “it’s just a missing person case we want to conclude, and then, at a conclusion of that, we can make a fair assessment of it all.”

As the search continues, police say even the smallest detail could help find her, and anyone with information should come forward.

“A lot of times, just little bits of information come in, and there is a little detail in there that may help us to solve the investigation, or give us an answer to small questions that still exist,” said Kansky.

Carol Ray is described as Asian, 5’1″ and weighs about 90 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue zip-up sweatshirt and tennis shoes.

If you have any information on her whereabouts, you are asked to Bend police at (541) 693-6911