Allyson Watterson was last seen on December 20, 2019 with her boyfriend.
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An Oregon family is in mourning after a six-month search for an “amazing” 20-year-old woman came to an end.
The last time anyone saw Allyson Watterson was December 22, 2019, walking with her boyfriend Benjamin Garland in a forested area near North Plains, about 18 miles northwest of Portland, police said at the time of his disappearance.
Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were called to a property on June 20 where the owner found a body while cleaning the brush.
The day before the discovery, Watterson’s mother, Misty, posted an emotional plea on Facebook.
“This is my beautiful, amazing and brave amazing daughter Allysön Watterson. The day they take her out of my life will forever be the worst darkest day any mother can experience,” wrote Misty Watterson. “Who is responsible for taking my daughter out of my life, I want you to know that you took my life, my breath, my soul, my everything has been taken from me, from my life and from the lives around me that they love and they love this boy. always dark until she comes home to us. “
A day after Allyson Watterson was reported missing on December 23, Garland told police that he separated from her during his walk, police said.
Garland, 21, was later arrested on several charges unrelated to her disappearance and is serving a prison sentence, police said.
“There is no evidence pointing directly to him, except that he was the last person seen with Allyson,” Brian van Kleef, public information officer for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday.
The Washington County medical examiner announced Friday that the body was identified as Allyson Watterson. The final cause of death has not been determined, authorities said.
Van Kleef said the investigation is ongoing as they follow any advice and await the results of Allyson Watterson’s autopsy report which may take a few weeks.
“The Sheriff’s Office offers our sincerest condolences to the family as they have faced unthinkable circumstances for the past six months since Allyson was reported missing,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
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