Today is a tough day for the community of Rainier and for everyone who had hoped there would be a positive outcome to the search for Gabe Triplett.
The Daily News has reported tonight that the body found in Goble Falls this weekend is indeed that of Gabe. Authorities were able to make a positive identification based on dental records.
From TDN’s website:
The body recovered Saturday from Goble Creek has been positively identified through dental records as Gabriel Triplett, Lt. Gerry Simmons of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
Triplett, 23, of Rainier was reported as a missing person Feb. 28.
The Oregon medical examiner found no sign of trauma in an autopsy performed Monday, Simmons said. A complete report from the medical examiner will be available in about three weeks.
It is terribly sad to hear that the search for Gabe has ended in such a fashion, but let’s be thankful for those who gave of their time and money to search for him — the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the numerous volunteers, many of whom were my high school classmates and great people.
Please be in prayer for the Triplett family as they now have to endure the second death in their family in four years. This has to be terribly hard on them and my every prayer is with them right now.
Thank you to those of you who have commented, written in and relayed that you were praying and thinking of the Tripletts during such a time as this. Although I didn’t know Gabe well, we had talked and communicated on many occasions in high school and I remember him as a great guy. May he rest in peace and may the Lord bless his family tonight.
UPDATE 4/16 - Leslie Slape from the Daily News has linked to the 2004 Standout Grads story about Gabe, and also the original story about the 2003 car crash he was involved in.
My condolences to his family.
That’s sad. I remember he kinda looked out for me freshman year. He would check up on me to see if I was doing alright in school and adjusting well. Then the crash. He was a totally different Gabe then. And now he is gone completely. This sucks. Two friends in one week.
-Jas