Monmouth teen drowns in John Day River

The body of a 16-year-old Monmouth teen who drowned in the John Day River was recovered Monday by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue divers, the day after he disappeared while swimming with friends, Wheeler County sheriff’s deputies said.

The body of Cody Lane Watson was found in the river near milepost 82 on Highway 19/207, said Chief Deputy Michael Boyd.

Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson said sheriff’s SAR divers responded to assist Wheeler County and located and recovered the teen’s body.

“This was sad, a tragic outcome,” Nelson said.

Around noon Sunday, sheriff’s deputies were called to the river about eight miles west of Spray on a report that the teen had disappeared beneath the water’s surface, Boyd said.

Wheeler County Search and Rescue, Oregon State Police and members of the Spray fire and ambulance departments searched the area extensively on Sunday, without success.

They were joined about two hours after the search began by members of the Grant County Fast Water Rescue Team, but the search ended late in the day, to resume Monday morning.

“The initial investigation does not indicate this was anything but a tragic accidental drowning,” Boyd said in a news release.

“The John Day River continues to be deceptively dangerous, with sudden changes in both the current and the underwater features of the riverbed,” the chief deputy said. “Swimmers should use extreme caution while swimming in any natural waterway.”