Clackamas County, OR. – Official Release: The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the kayaker who went missing in the Willamette River on April 12, 2025 as Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, age 20 of Porterville, California.
Investigators learned Marcelus and his family were on vacation and arrived in the area on Saturday evening. Marcelus was last seen kayaking in the area and may not have known the falls were there.
Late Saturday evening, multiple 911 callers reported observing a kayaker in distress on the Willamette River, just upstream of Willamette Falls in Oregon City. A short time later, witnesses stated the individual, a lone adult male, was seen going over the falls and did not resurface. Initial search operations included multiple agencies on the water and in the air with support provided by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft from the Portland Police Bureau.
Despite extensive efforts, Marcelus has not been located. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is continuing to search the river to bring closure to Marcelus’ family.
At the request of the Rodriguez family, we are releasing the following statement:
“We, the family of Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, are truly devastated by the tragic event that unfolded this past Saturday in the Willamette Falls area, and we would not wish this experience on anyone. Our family is making every effort to heal and come to terms with our loss.
We would like to first warn others to always be aware of their surroundings and to NEVER enter this river without wearing a life jacket or, at the very least, exercising extreme caution, as the forces of nature can quickly become overwhelming and deadly.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the teams of first responders who rushed to our aid and continue to search for our boy. We also thank the locals and fishermen out on the water who have been watchful and helpful during this difficult time. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has treated us with care and compassion, and we are forever grateful for their efforts.
Marcelus loved God, his family, and nature. We hope that this tragic accident can be avoided in the future for other families. May God keep watch over Marcelus and bless him always.”
— The Rodriguez Family
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