University of Portland holds vigil for missing student
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Hundreds of people filled a chapel at the University of Portland Thursday night to pray for Owen Klinger, the student who went missing 4 days earlier.
The 18-year-old first-year student lives on campus but his roommates called his parents on Monday to say he hadn’t returned after leaving around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Owen stopped at a campus ATM earlier that day and told his roommates he was headed to a lacrosse club team meeting.
“Sunday evening he did get money out of the ATM machine on campus, ate food at the Pilot House, then was going to be headed to a lacrosse meeting or practice,” his parents said. “But it sounds like he was a little evasive with his roommates about what his plans were.”
Campus video captured the back of Owen as he walked out of his dorm, Christie Hall.
Police found a TriMet video of Owen walking past a bus on North Portsmouth Avenue, heading toward North Lombard Street at 7:50 p.m. Sunday night.
The 6-foot-1 freshman was wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers and had a drawstring backpack. He has mid-length brown hair and brown eyes.
His parents said he was getting good grades and preparing for midterm exams. They said he seemed to be in good spirits and that him disappearing without any notice is out-of-character.
More than 500 people filled the Chapel of Christ the Teacher for Thursday’s 20-minute service which was followed by a candlelight vigil centered on the themes of hope and perseverance.
“No one is really strong enough for this,” Owen’s mom Mary Klinger said at the vigil. “We need this community to help us and to help Owen. And we need Owen to know how much he is loved by us and his whole community.”
Those who want to help in the search effort can visit the “Find Owen Klinger Group” Facebook page or send an email to findowenk@gmail.com.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the University of Portland police — 503.943.7161 — or the Portland Police Bureau, 503.823.3333.
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