The strange disappearance of Roy Loren Stephens from the Willamette National Forest

December 18, 2017 StrangeOutdoors

Roy Loren Stephens, disappeared November 16, 2005, Waldo Lake, Willamette National Forest, Oregon.

Revised July 2024

Father of three, Roy Stephens, 48, was last seen on Highway 58 near Crescent, Oregon in the evening hours. His gray, 1991 Ford Taurus wagon was later located on November 25, 2005, at the Waldo Lake access road, off Highway 58, in the Willamette National Forest.

What is and where is Waldo Lake?

Waldo Lake

Waldo Lake is located in Lane County at an elevation of 5,414 feet (1,650 m) above sea level. It is accessible via Forest Service Road 5897 from Oregon Route 58. It is 18 miles (29 km) east of Oakridge, and the forest road travels 12 miles (19 km) to the lake.

The disappearance of Roy Stephens

On November 16, 2005, Roy left his job as a chef at Odell Lake Lodge after picking up his paycheck. He then called his wife, Marilyn Lightner, to ask her if she wanted to go have dinner and drinks at the local tavern in Crescent City. Unfortunately, she was feeling unwell, so she declined his offer, and he went ahead and met up with his friends at the bar.

He arrived at 5 or 6 o’clock and called her again at around 11 p.m., just to tell her that he loved her and that he was on his way home. That was the last time she spoke with him and the last time he was seen.

Roy’s wife patiently waited for him to come home for two days and reported him missing on November 18, 2005. It was very out of character for Roy, as sometimes he would be a little late getting home, and he would call and say that he was on his way and be back a few hours later. But he’d never been away overnight or for more than 24 hours.

Roy's wife and son searched the area near the Odell Lake Lodge, trying to find him when he didn't show up. Because Marilyn had just had triple-bypass surgery, this was difficult for her, and she phoned neighbors and friends. But no one had seen him since that night of November 16, 2005. Friends said Roy had left the tavern and would stop by another friend’s house before he went straight home.

The discovery of Roy’s car

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2005, just over a month after Roy had vanished, hikers walking up Waldo Lake Road found a car. As it looked suspicious, they called the Police, saying that the car was abandoned.

The next day, the car was identified as Roy's, around 10-15 miles from his home. It was completely in the opposite direction that he was going to see his friend's house.

Strangely and most concerning, Roy's wallet and paycheck were left in the car on the passenger seat. There was vomit next to the car.

Three law enforcement agencies were involved in the case (Lane County, Klamath County, and the Willamette National Forest). This was because Roy lived in Klamath County, but his car was found in Lane County and the Willamette National Forest. This didn't help the search, but in the end, only four hours of searching were conducted, and cadaver dogs were not even sent into the area months after Roy vanished. For some reason, he was a low priority for search and rescue.

His daughter Krista Dolby said, “…. they didn’t even do forensic testing of his car. They looked in it for evidence, like his wallet and paycheck were on the front seat, and apparently, the hiker reported that there had been vomit right by the car, but that’s it. Then they arranged for the car to be towed back to my Mom’s house.”

What happened to Roy Stephens?

15 years later, no trace of Roy has been found in the Waldo Lake area. Foul play seems a strong possibility, but it was strange that his wallet and paycheck were left in the car. If he was attacked or murdered, why didn’t the assailants take his belongings? If Roy wanted to disappear, it would seem likely that he would take his wallet.

Perhaps he was drunk, got disorientated, stopped the car on the road, vomited, and then got lost in the woods or attacked by local wildlife.

There was speculation about conflict between the two men that Roy would visit. Roy's community was very tight-knit and very closed-mouth, but there were rumors that he was with those two men, and they were the last people that had seen him.

Family members tried to rally a community search and rescue effort, and they were told by local law enforcement that they would not be able to go up the mountain because it wasn’t safe. Nobody in the local community offered or volunteered to help them to do anything to search for Roy. What did he do to annoy the community?

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