Found Deceased OR - Owen Klinger, 18, University of Portland, 6 Oct 2019

[Elliot_Alderson]

I found myself interested in this disappearance because my initial reaction was he was met with foul play and still is. This thread is a series of suicide monologues which of course it could come out to be a suspected or suspicious suicide, suspicious in many homicide victims are displayed as such by their predators. Is it because he is a male? I do not remember people assuming Heather Graham or the Sugar Baby escort of clearly being suicides, but being respected as potential victims and searched for immediately by police as potential victims. The theories of train hopping or into the void really derailed finding this tall, intelligent, and handsome young man alive and well. IMO, there are far too many cases of young, highly intelligent, mindful college males, oops slipping into lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams across the USA. I feel if this was a female victim missing, the conversation would not have been so 180, for example look at that poor upset drunk Heather, she must have committed suicide for insert 50 reasons why.

RBBM, I 100% agree with with that part. Pretty much why my first or second thought in this thread was asking what the nearest body of water would be. I don't believe in the college aged men/smiley face graffiti crap, however, one cannot deny some sort of link between college aged men disappearing only to be found in a body of water. JMO and all that jazz.

 

[GordianKnot]

RBBM, I 100% agree with with that part. Pretty much why my first or second thought in this thread was asking what the nearest body of water would be. I don't believe in the college aged men/smiley face graffiti crap, however, one cannot deny some sort of link between college aged men disappearing only to be found in a body of water. JMO and all that jazz.

The link in many of those cases is alcohol.

Not here in OK's case, to be clear, but generally, "last seen leaving a bar" is all too often the narrative in these cases involving college dudes and drownings.

We see it here time after time after time after time.

JMO.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

The link in many of those cases is alcohol.

Not here in OK's case, to be clear, but generally, "last seen leaving a bar" is all too often the narrative in these cases involving college dudes and drownings.

We see it here time after time after time after time.

JMO.

Right, but what is the timeline here? He leaves his dorm, goes and takes out $150 and 2 weeks later is found downstream from a bridge notorious for people choosing to take their lives by jumping from it.

So what happens between taking out the money and jumping from the bridge? Was it a straight shot? Do we know what he did in between those two things?

 

[scox_]

The link in many of those cases is alcohol.

Not here in OK's case, to be clear, but generally, "last seen leaving a bar" is all too often the narrative in these cases involving college dudes and drownings.

We see it here time after time after time after time.

JMO.

I’m still super on the fence.

The key word bring some. Not all. Some were found with date rape drugs like GHB and others were found with no drugs or alcohol whatsoever. I feel like the bigger and scarier link in those cases is the inconsistent decomposition. These guys will be missing for days to months and look like they were just put in the water. Not to mention a lot of them have little to no water in their lungs.

Now with Owen, and them not confirming his identity yet, I think that could be because the state of his body was as if it had been in the water the whole time, which would point a lot more towards suicide.

My heart breaks for his parents, it’s not like one option is better than the other, but either way their baby is gone and I can’t even imagine what they’re feeling.

 

[LAborn]

Right, but what is the timeline here? He leaves his dorm, goes and takes out $150 and 2 weeks later is found downstream from a bridge notorious for people choosing to take their lives by jumping from it.

So what happens between taking out the money and jumping from the bridge? Was it a straight shot? Do we know what he did in between those two things?

Walking. It's about 2-3 miles. 8:30pm was when his phone was last on/operating.

 

[raja]

dbm

 

[Bree1950]

He disappeared the night before midterms began without telling anyone where he was going and was found two weeks later downriver of a bridge notorious for suicide.

LE put out the train hopping theory for his disappearance, and I, for one, was happy to entertain it considering the alternatives.

I don’t think these theories on this thread were unfounded.

LE put the train theory in place before they realized had he walked a completely different direction.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Mass scheduled for Owen Klinger

ETA: October 21, 2019 7:40pm
“A Mass will be held tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher for University of Portland student Owen Klinger who is believed to be dead. According to a campus-wide email from university President Fr. Mark Poorman, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office will issue a statement confirming Owen’s death.

‘Owen’s loss is keenly felt. Kind, generous, and loyal, he was a person who lived for others,’ Poorman said in the email. ‘He gave deeply of himself. He loved earnestly. Although his time on The Bluff was short, his impact on our University is deep and enduring.’

[SBM]”

 

[happyday]

LE put the train theory in place before they realized had he walked a completely different direction.

Oh I know. The OP was saying the thread had been derailed by that theory and I was just pointing out that it was LE who put out the theory.

 

[Ccging]

So sad to hear the news this morning

 

[Tutter]

I am so sorry Owen’s story ended this way. It is hard for me to accept suicide. Some facts that we know just don’t quite fit (MOO) but if he met with foul play would they stop and turn his phone off?

Also, can they really tell if he jumped voluntarily? Any injuries could have been sustained in the fall or from violence beforehand. It seems to me it would be almost impossible to tell unless there is a digital trail.

RIP Owen.

 

[RaisedUnderdark]

I'm heartbroken after following this one closely. I had hoped this would not be the outcome, but suspected it would be.

Although I still think there's a good chance that he met with foul play after taking the money out in order to buy something/pay for a service of some kind, I don't think suicide is farfetched despite the ATM withdrawal. I think it's very possible he withdrew the money to give away, but didn't empty the whole account because some of the money was supplied by his parents. Maybe the $150 is what he saw as 'his' money, versus what they'd given him. He might have reasoned that the rest was not really his to give away.

Also, as someone who has struggled with suicide ideation since childhood ... I'd ask that anyone who has picked up the quip about 'permanent solution to a temporary problem' try to banish it from your vernacular. Although it's true that SOME people die by suicide as an immediate reaction to a circumstance, for many people who die that way, it is NOT a temporary problem. It's something they've been struggling with for years. As catchy as the phrase is, it implies shortsightedness or weakness when the truth is that the person might just have finally decided enough was enough after years of pushing through extreme distress with resilience few people will ever understand. If I ever don't outlast a dark episode, it will not be shortsightedness--because I know every time that it's NOT going to end. There are respites, but they are not permanent. It'll be that a terminal illness finally got me, just like someone might die of cancer after a long illness.

Everything I've read makes me think that Owen and I are very similar. Deeply sensitive and compassionate, introspective but also uninterested in burdening others with our problems. My parents had no clue I'd been struggling with suicide and self-harm since grade school until they got a call from me while I was away at college, age 20. I asked them to come get me because I wasn't okay. I called because I had a good friend like Owen's roommate--but he had the additional insight of a suicide attempt in his past, he saw troubling signs and told me I could call my parents or he would call them for me. If suicide was Owen's end, I'm only very sorry chance didn't happen to throw a barrier in his path long enough to slow him down so someone could help him.

 

[Teche]

There was a report of a series of text messages and group messages (uncertain of number of participants) that occurred during the time he left and withdrew 150 dollars in cash, which i would speculate is to pay for something en-route to the supplier of unknown goods and circumstances. Most people, or at least a few persons would have come forth, if nothing to hide, would likely have jumped on the chance to come forward to help in a missing persons case investigation. I find the fact these individuals kept as crickets, complete silence for two weeks highly suspect especially in the wake of witnessing a grieving family. Untraceable burner phones, if the case, would further magnify suspicion of ill intent and harm, on top of hindering, a missing person investigation.

Any mention by LE if group texts were to burner phones or top of texts?

 

[Teche]

I'm heartbroken after following this one closely. I had hoped this would not be the outcome, but suspected it would be.

Although I still think there's a good chance that he met with foul play after taking the money out in order to buy something/pay for a service of some kind, I don't think suicide is farfetched despite the ATM withdrawal. I think it's very possible he withdrew the money to give away, but didn't empty the whole account because some of the money was supplied by his parents. Maybe the $150 is what he saw as 'his' money, versus what they'd given him. He might have reasoned that the rest was not really his to give away.

Also, as someone who has struggled with suicide ideation since childhood ... I'd ask that anyone who has picked up the quip about 'permanent solution to a temporary problem' try to banish it from your vernacular. Although it's true that SOME people die by suicide as an immediate reaction to a circumstance, for many people who die that way, it is NOT a temporary problem. It's something they've been struggling with for years. As catchy as the phrase is, it implies shortsightedness or weakness when the truth is that the person might just have finally decided enough was enough after years of pushing through extreme distress with resilience few people will ever understand. If I ever don't outlast a dark episode, it will not be shortsightedness--because I know every time that it's NOT going to end. There are respites, but they are not permanent. It'll be that a terminal illness finally got me, just like someone might die of cancer after a long illness.

Everything I've read makes me think that Owen and I are very similar. Deeply sensitive and compassionate, introspective but also uninterested in burdening others with our problems. My parents had no clue I'd been struggling with suicide and self-harm since grade school until they got a call from me while I was away at college, age 20. I asked them to come get me because I wasn't okay. I called because I had a good friend like Owen's roommate--but he had the additional insight of a suicide attempt in his past, he saw troubling signs and told me I could call my parents or he would call them for me. If suicide was Owen's end, I'm only very sorry chance didn't happen to throw a barrier in his path long enough to slow him down so someone could help him.

Thank you for sharing for struggles and educating us. Your words may help someone today.

 

[LAborn]

I'm heartbroken after following this one closely. I had hoped this would not be the outcome, but suspected it would be.

Although I still think there's a good chance that he met with foul play after taking the money out in order to buy something/pay for a service of some kind, I don't think suicide is farfetched despite the ATM withdrawal. I think it's very possible he withdrew the money to give away, but didn't empty the whole account because some of the money was supplied by his parents. Maybe the $150 is what he saw as 'his' money, versus what they'd given him. He might have reasoned that the rest was not really his to give away.

Also, as someone who has struggled with suicide ideation since childhood ... I'd ask that anyone who has picked up the quip about 'permanent solution to a temporary problem' try to banish it from your vernacular. Although it's true that SOME people die by suicide as an immediate reaction to a circumstance, for many people who die that way, it is NOT a temporary problem. It's something they've been struggling with for years. As catchy as the phrase is, it implies shortsightedness or weakness when the truth is that the person might just have finally decided enough was enough after years of pushing through extreme distress with resilience few people will ever understand. If I ever don't outlast a dark episode, it will not be shortsightedness--because I know every time that it's NOT going to end. There are respites, but they are not permanent. It'll be that a terminal illness finally got me, just like someone might die of cancer after a long illness.

Everything I've read makes me think that Owen and I are very similar. Deeply sensitive and compassionate, introspective but also uninterested in burdening others with our problems. My parents had no clue I'd been struggling with suicide and self-harm since grade school until they got a call from me while I was away at college, age 20. I asked them to come get me because I wasn't okay. I called because I had a good friend like Owen's roommate--but he had the additional insight of a suicide attempt in his past, he saw troubling signs and told me I could call my parents or he would call them for me. If suicide was Owen's end, I'm only very sorry chance didn't happen to throw a barrier in his path long enough to slow him down so someone could help him.

Are you in treatment now? I hope so.

 

[RaisedUnderdark]

Any mention by LE if group texts were to burner phones or top of texts?

Do we know if the content of the group texts is available to LE/OK's family?

There are two things that are concerning me a little:

• Apparently there were group texts, and as far as we know, the people involved haven't come forward.
• andrew oz mentioned meeting a member of the Lacrosse team during a search, and that he said Owen was the only one on the team that didn't bully him. Although we don't know the group texts were with the team, it does speak to bullying being an issue in Owen's vicinity and a lot of time if you don't join in the 'fun', you become an additional target. It's possible that there's a reason the people in the group text have not come forward if the content was unkind. Just speculation, of course.

 

[10ofRods]

I think right now that suicide is the best theory we have. The fact that the bridge is notorious for jumpers is a big clue. When I learned this morning his body was just downstream from that bridge (and a few days ago someone posted that there are no cameras on the bridge - and apparently no suicide hotline boxes), I was very sad.

The fact that it was the night before midterms initially made me really uneasy about the possible suicide angle. We know from lots of research on college students that they come in with some anxiety, but a lot of hopefulness. Tests and papers can really put a dent in that. For the current crop of young people, this may be the first time in their life when they have had to cope, more or less alone, with stresses involving success and failure. People who have always supported them are not present on a daily basis, and now, they are subject to the viewpoints and the gaze of professors and other students.

There are so many factors in why suicide rates are climbing in this age group, but we all need to be aware. So many successful suicides (more of whom are male) tend to exhibit very few obvious clues. Reaching out for help is associated with less suicide...I really feel for Owen's parents, this is a parent's nightmare and so devastating.

 

[PaulR]

I'm heartbroken after following this one closely. I had hoped this would not be the outcome, but suspected it would be.

Although I still think there's a good chance that he met with foul play after taking the money out in order to buy something/pay for a service of some kind, I don't think suicide is farfetched despite the ATM withdrawal. I think it's very possible he withdrew the money to give away, but didn't empty the whole account because some of the money was supplied by his parents. Maybe the $150 is what he saw as 'his' money, versus what they'd given him. He might have reasoned that the rest was not really his to give away.

Also, as someone who has struggled with suicide ideation since childhood ... I'd ask that anyone who has picked up the quip about 'permanent solution to a temporary problem' try to banish it from your vernacular. Although it's true that SOME people die by suicide as an immediate reaction to a circumstance, for many people who die that way, it is NOT a temporary problem. It's something they've been struggling with for years. As catchy as the phrase is, it implies shortsightedness or weakness when the truth is that the person might just have finally decided enough was enough after years of pushing through extreme distress with resilience few people will ever understand. If I ever don't outlast a dark episode, it will not be shortsightedness--because I know every time that it's NOT going to end. There are respites, but they are not permanent. It'll be that a terminal illness finally got me, just like someone might die of cancer after a long illness.

Everything I've read makes me think that Owen and I are very similar. Deeply sensitive and compassionate, introspective but also uninterested in burdening others with our problems. My parents had no clue I'd been struggling with suicide and self-harm since grade school until they got a call from me while I was away at college, age 20. I asked them to come get me because I wasn't okay. I called because I had a good friend like Owen's roommate--but he had the additional insight of a suicide attempt in his past, he saw troubling signs and told me I could call my parents or he would call them for me. If suicide was Owen's end, I'm only very sorry chance didn't happen to throw a barrier in his path long enough to slow him down so someone could help him.

Thank you for saying this.

Sometimes depression and mental illness is not a temporary problem and I wonder if that pithy saying hurts rather than helps.

I know someone who committed suicide after a lifetime of mental health issues. It was never temporary for them.

 

[10ofRods]

Do we know if the content of the group texts is available to LE/OK's family?

There are two things that are concerning me a little:

• Apparently there were group texts, and as far as we know, the people involved haven't come forward.
• andrew oz mentioned meeting a member of the Lacrosse team during a search, and that he said Owen was the only one on the team that didn't bully him. Although we don't know the group texts were with the team, it does speak to bullying being an issue in Owen's vicinity and a lot of time if you don't join in the 'fun', you become an additional target. It's possible that there's a reason the people in the group text have not come forward if the content was unkind. Just speculation, of course.

Ah. That's very interesting. Yes, bullying is definitely a thing among college students (or whatever you want to call that terrible kind of behavior). Interesting that the bullied student is the one who was helping to search. I wonder if the others were there. Certainly, they weren't accompanying this student who spoke of bullying.

If there was bullying, that can really affect a student's ability to study, and that can have a cascading effect. So sad.

 

[RaisedUnderdark]

Are you in treatment now? I hope so.

I am. Thank you for asking. My mental illness is chronic, so I will be in treatment the rest of my life, circumstances allowing. I am fortunate to have always had resources, access, and family support (once I told my parents what was going on). I take medication and my treatment is managed by a therapist and a psychiatrist. That phone call to my parents was 15 years ago. So far, so good. Owen likely would have also had access to assistance, though I'm not sure HOW wealthy his parents are, he would have still needed to ask them for assistance seeking treatment. I was solidly middle class, and I can tell you that the worst time I ever had securing treatment was while I was a student at another university in Portland. It's a very long story, but suffice to say that they talk a big game about 'there's always help available' in heartfelt emails from university administration when students die by suicide but there's very little ACTUAL assistance available to college students on the university health plan.