PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Friday said it had no evidence that Allyson Watterson and her boyfriend were hiking northwest of Portland near North Plains where she was last see on Sunday.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the sheriff’s office previously said Watterson, 20, and Benjamin Garland were traversing the woods when they became separated.
That account came from the boyfriend’s father, Don Garland, who reported Watterson missing Monday night, said Deputy Brian van Kleef, a sheriff’s spokesman.
According to van Kleef, Don Garland said he and his son spent that day unsuccessfully searching for Watterson. The two men said they were initially reluctant to make an official report because Benjamin Garland had outstanding warrants for his arrest, van Kleef said.
Don Garland could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Misty Watterson, Allyson’s mother, said Friday that her daughter and Benjamin Garland had been in North Plains to visit a friend when their car broke down.
The two got separated as they left to go get help, Misty Watterson said.
Van Kleef said the sheriff’s office has no evidence of this, either.
“We don’t know what they were doing out there,” said van Kleef. “We certainly don’t have a broken-down car.”
The search for Watterson continues.
Benjamin Garland this week pleaded not guilty to unrelated charges of theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle.
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