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Body of Last Slide Victim Located

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 22, 2014

CONTACT: Shari Ireton, Director of Communications
shari.ireton@snoco.org, 425-388-3377, Media line:  425-249-6263

EVERETT, Wash. – Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue personnel believe they have located the body of Molly Kristine “Kris” Regelbrugge of Arlington, the last victim from the March 22 slide near Oso. 

“I’m humbled and honored that we are able return Kris to her family,” said Sheriff Ty Trenary.  “I’m also extremely grateful to the communities of Oso, Darrington and Arlington who stood beside us these past four months in our efforts to recover all of the missing victims.”

The body was located at approximately 8 a.m. today on the west side of the slide site, south of SR 530.  Search and rescue personnel used evidence-based search techniques, often employed by law enforcement in missing persons cases, in their search.  Personal items believed to belong to the Regelbrugge family had been previously located in the area.

“It is a testament to the persistence of the sheriff’s office that today, four months after the slide, we recovered the final victim,” said Snohomish County Executive John Lovick. “The sheriff’s search and rescue teams are true professionals. I am honored and humbled by their dedication and commitment to this community.”

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner will confirm identification of the body once it is recovered.  Recovery is currently ongoing and could be lengthy, as the area needs to be made safe for personnel, but is expected to happen by the end of today. 

The recovery and identification of Regelbrugge’s body will bring the total number of those killed in the March 22 slide to 43. 

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