Found Deceased Kaylee Birt, 29, Harney County, 4 April 2025

[GraceG]

I saw a post from the county that warned of wildlife in the area..I think cougars were mentioned. If that is what happened, would they or another animal consume the clothing/shoes? I’m not familiar at all in that area so I have no idea how long those articles would remain relatively intact.

Cougars will usually quickly take their fallen prey off to a secluded location and in an area such as this, will utilize dense thickets (and under fallen logs if there are any) for den sites, where they find rest, protection and a place to raise their young. A shoe, if lost in a attack by a cougar, in a vast area like that, might easily be overlooked by searchers, and certainly wouldn't be visible from the air. More info here: Cougar Biology & Behavior - Western Wildlife Outreach That being said, there has been only one known fatal cougar attack on record in Oregon (2018, a female hiker).

 

[adot0902]

Recent update - events in chronological order from April 3rd - today

I wonder what made the rancher contact the police? That kind of stands out to me. Was she acting erratically, I don't think I'd call the police if someone ran out of gas twice, that doesn't make sense it would have to be something in addition to that, right?

 

[iusedtofloat]

I wonder what made the rancher contact the police? That kind of stands out to me. Was she acting erratically, I don't think I'd call the police if someone ran out of gas twice, that doesn't make sense it would have to be something in addition to that, right?

I think she must've come off very panicked/not okay, she also couldn't follow directions to the store nearby. I have severe anxiety issues and if I was that lost and scared someone would probably call the cops on me too tbh. I wish she would've stayed put until cops arrived.

 

[Queen of the Winter Night]

I hope they find her. It seems there are big gaps of time, hours even, that are not accounted for but she's still in the same town saying she's lost and out of gas? Am I missing something?

 

[ortripletmama]

I hope they find her. It seems there are big gaps of time, hours even, that are not accounted for but she's still in the same town saying she's lost and out of gas? Am I missing something?

Based on the timeline posted above, she found herself at Denio NV too late in the day to get gas there. The nearest gas that *might* be open overnight was either 100 miles to the south (Winnemucca NV) or 90 miles east (Lakeview OR). Fields OR is 20ish miles north of where she was and if she wasn't familiar with the area (and it sounds like she wasn't) she may have thought there would be gas there. That would be my guess based on experience as to why she headed north, out of her way. What she wouldn't know is that the little store/cafe/gas pump in Fields closes up tight at 6 pm.

My husband and I had a similar experience when we were college kids, only it was with a leaking tire and in opposite directions. We went from Fields to Denio hoping to find some kind of tire shop, and at least had sleeping bags with us. We slept in our car until we could limp back up to Fields in the morning where the gas station also had a guy who could sell us a tire. At that time Denio didn't have gas or a store, just a bar - this was like 2001, we didn't have a cell phone, just our trusty Oregon Road Atlas and had no idea just how small these towns were. At least it was summer, and much much warmer at night than it is right now.

It's hard to understand just how isolated and desolate this part of Oregon is until you see it yourself. The entire lower eastern corner of the state is officially designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary - it is DARK DARK at night. The "towns" are basically one - three buildings and maybe a few houses. I think Fields has an elementary school. We learned the hard way to carry water/sleeping bags/a full size spare tire/food etc and keep a very close eye on our gas usage while driving.

I could see a local rancher calling the sheriff out of concern for a lone female motorist who seems at risk of car trouble. There isn't police, per se, just a sheriff and like 19 deputies for an area roughly 10,000 square miles. It's still dropping below freezing at night out there, and just isn't a forgiving area to be stuck if you're unprepared.

I hope her family is able to find her.

 

[mlhenn]

MISSING - Kaylee Birt | Solve the Case

Kaylee Birt has been missing since about 8:30AM on April 4, 2025. Kaylee was last seen at The Fields Station in her gold 2008 Chevy Malibu, license plate GW21073. Kaylee was going from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Shenandoah, Iowa.

www.solvethecase.org

Timeline of Events included

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Linked article is a transcript of a video interview with her parents (also included at the link.)

Shenandoah family wants more urgency in search for daughter missing in Oregon

"The longer it goes without finding a body, or anything, your mind goes to foul play, then. And time, to me, is of the essence," said Kaylee's mom, Michelle Birt.

www.3newsnow.com

*****
Trey Werner from Wilderness Search Investigations is helping the Birts: "We can only do so much when government agencies do not help non-government agencies..."

Following our interview, Michelle said the sheriff's sergeant called, saying another K-9 search is planned in early May.

The non-profit Dylan's Legacy told me it will also conduct a K-9 search.

*****

ETA: YouTube of the interview.

 

[GraceG]

Linked article is a transcript of a video interview with her parents (also included at the link.)

Shenandoah family wants more urgency in search for daughter missing in Oregon

"The longer it goes without finding a body, or anything, your mind goes to foul play, then. And time, to me, is of the essence," said Kaylee's mom, Michelle Birt.

www.3newsnow.com

*****
Trey Werner from Wilderness Search Investigations is helping the Birts: "We can only do so much when government agencies do not help non-government agencies..."

Following our interview, Michelle said the sheriff's sergeant called, saying another K-9 search is planned in early May.

The non-profit Dylan's Legacy told me it will also conduct a K-9 search.

*****

ETA: YouTube of the interview.

That's wonderful that these groups are stepping up - I remember Dylan's case well, and am glad they are using his legacy to help others.

I'm wondering if the K9's are SAR dogs (scent/search) or cadaver or both. The training is different for the dogs specific skill set. I"ve worked with both when we had a person from a possibly surviveable plane crash go missing from the crash site. They are amazing.

 

[dalsglen]

That's wonderful that these groups are stepping up - I remember Dylan's case well, and am glad they are using his legacy to help others.

I'm wondering if the K9's are SAR dogs (scent/search) or cadaver or both. The training is different for the dogs specific skill set. I"ve worked with both when we had a person from a possibly surviveable plane crash go missing from the crash site. They are amazing.

The dogs are being provided by the Dylan (Rounds) Legacy. I can't recall what type of dogs they are but I'd take a punt and say they have both.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

The facebook group "Finding Kaylee Birt" which seems to be run by her family has posted this earlier today:

We were notified about an hour ago that remains have been found that are believed to be our Kaylee bean. We are waiting on confirmation.

Finding Kaylee Birt | Fields OR

Finding Kaylee Birt, Fields, OR. 3,275 likes · 4,754 talking about this. Kaylee Birt has been missing since April 4, 2025. She was last seen at 8:30 a.m. at the Fields Station in Fields, Oregon....

www.facebook.com

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Harney County Sheriff's Office | Burns OR

Harney County Sheriff's Office, Burns, Oregon. 13,792 likes · 368 talking about this · 3 were here. Official Facebook page of the Harney County Sheriff's Office, in Burns, OR. Daniel Jenkins

www.facebook.com

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Harney County Sheriff's Office | Burns OR

Harney County Sheriff's Office, Burns, Oregon. 13,792 likes · 368 talking about this · 3 were here. Official Facebook page of the Harney County Sheriff's Office, in Burns, OR. Daniel Jenkins

www.facebook.com

Sorry, I should have included some content -- I hate when people post only a link with no explanation, especially on facebook!

The post from the Sheriff's office says:

Harney County Sheriff's Office​

12h ·
May 3, 2025
We have confirmed that the remains discovered by volunteer searchers earlier today have been positively identified as belonging to Kaylee Birt, who had been missing since April 4, 2025. The family has been notified.
We would like to express our deep appreciation to the dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to find Kaylee.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.

 

[GraceG]

Given the temperatures I had little hope she had survived but am so very thankful that the volunteers continued the search until she could be brought home to her family for burial. My heart goes out to her loved ones and my thanks to those volunters.

 

[ttcRider]

Does anyone know what happened?