Human remains found in April near Upper Calapooia Drive have been positively identified as those of former Sweet Home resident Mark Hardin.
Linn County Sheriff’s detectives and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office have worked to identify the remains and received DNA confirmation this week, the Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, Aug. 10.
Hardin was reported missing to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in 2011. An extensive search and investigation were conducted following the missing person report. This included a large search operation in the remote areas of Upper Calapooia and continuous work throughout the years.
The remains were located by hikers approximately a mile from Upper Calapooia Drive in a very densely forested area on Chandler Mountain.
“They came across some bones (that) have obviously been up there awhile,” Sheriff Jim Yon told The New Era.
Weyerhaeuser assisted the investigation by clearing an overgrown road to make access to the area easier.
Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm said no evidence of foul play was found during the previous missing person investigation or the recent discovery of Hardin’s remains.