Obits
Josephine County, OR: Toddler Found Unconscious in Illinois River
Cave Junction, OR – A 2 year old boy has died following an apparent accidental drowning in the Illinois River near Cave Junction, prompting an emergency response and investigation in Josephine County
By Jenna Hartley · 2026-10-15T22:24:03.777Z
Cave Junction, OR – A 2 year old boy has died following an apparent accidental drowning in the Illinois River near Cave Junction, prompting an emergency response and investigation in Josephine County on Wednesday morning.
According to the Josephine County Sheriff 's Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:48 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, to a missing child report in the 100 block of Burch Drive, outside Cave Junction in Southern Oregon.
Before deputies arrived, family members located the toddler unconscious in the Illinois River, which runs behind the family's property.
Family Members and Deputies Attempt CPR Authorities said family members and responding deputies immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an effort to save the child.
CPR continued until an ambulance from American Medical Response arrived at the scene.
The boy was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment but later died, according to the sheriff's office.
Officials did not release additional information about how the child entered the river or how long he may have been in the water before being discovered.
Investigators Find No Evidence of Foul Play Detectives with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
A medicolegal death investigator from the District Attorney's Office also responded.
In its Thursday, October 15, press release, the sheriff's office stated that investigators had found no evidence of foul play.
The child's next of kin have been notified.
Authorities said the boy's name will not be released out of respect for his family and their privacy.
The sheriff's office extended its condolences to the child's relatives and friends following the tragedy.
No additional investigative findings were announced in the initial release.