SOLVED: 27 y/o Eddie and His Dog Sassy Found After Tragic Seizure

Missing for Weeks, Found at Last: Civilian Divers Locate 27-Year-Old Man and His Van in Oregon River

After nearly three weeks of uncertainty, heartbreak, and unanswered questions, the search for 27-year-old Eddie “Jay” Pen came to a tragic end when a team of civilian volunteer divers located his van submerged in the Columbia River along Marine Drive in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Pen, who had been reported missing on October 19, was found inside his vehicle after a methodical sonar search conducted by Adventures With Purpose, a nonprofit group known for solving cold missing-person cases by locating vehicles underwater—often where official searches have failed.

For Pen’s family, especially his father Stephen Pen, the discovery brought devastating confirmation—but also relief.

“At least now we know,” his father said after receiving the call. “If it wasn’t for these guys, we could have been sitting here for the next 20 years, never knowing.”

A Life Marked by Struggles

Eddie Pen had a complicated life shaped by health challenges and instability. According to his father, Pen began suffering from severe seizures—described as grand mal seizures—around the age of 25. The condition made holding steady employment difficult and contributed to repeated job losses, despite efforts by some employers to accommodate his medical needs.

Friends and family described Pen as intelligent and kind-hearted but difficult to live with. He often clashed with others and struggled with emotional regulation. After leaving Florida, he moved to Oregon to live with longtime online friends, eventually drifting into van life after relationships and housing situations fell apart.

In the months before his disappearance, Pen was living out of a gray Dodge van, occasionally parking near friends’ homes or near his workplace at FedEx. Though he faced mounting stress, those closest to him said there were no clear signs that he intended to harm himself.

“This didn’t feel like a suicide situation,” one searcher noted. “Everything pointed toward an accident.”

The Night He Disappeared

The last confirmed contact with Pen occurred via text message on the evening of October 19. He told a friend he would not be attending street races that night because he was “flat broke” and had to work at 2 a.m. Friends believe Pen left a residence in Vancouver, Washington, around 1:40 a.m., attempting to drive nearly 15 miles to his job.

He was known to favor Marine Drive—a scenic route running alongside the Columbia River—over faster highway options. Friends also confirmed Pen had a habit of speeding, sometimes driving 70 to 80 miles per hour.

Investigators and searchers theorized that Pen may have experienced a seizure while driving or lost control of the van while rushing to work. Along sections of Marine Drive, guardrails are absent, and the roadway sits above steep embankments that drop directly into deep water.

“If you’re doing that speed in a van,” one diver explained, “you don’t need much to carry you straight into the river.”

A Search Led by Civilian Divers

With official searches yielding no results, Pen’s father reached out to Adventures With Purpose. The team, led by diver Jared Leisek, traveled to the area and began a systematic sonar scan of likely entry points along the river.

Their approach was meticulous: eliminating shallow areas, checking boat ramps, studying tire marks along embankments, and scanning sections of water deep enough to conceal a full-size van.

During the search, the team identified multiple submerged vehicles—an unfortunate but common reality in the area. However, one sonar image stood out.

“I’ve got something right here,” Leisek said during the scan. “It’s upside down… and it’s a van.”

Further imaging revealed a vehicle matching the size, shape, and distinctive features of Pen’s van, including a rear ladder and windshield visor. The van rested upright on the riverbed at approximately 12 feet deep, with all windows intact.

Leisek entered the water to confirm the find.

“There is somebody in the driver’s seat,” he later reported.

The Call No Parent Wants—But Needed

Before contacting law enforcement, Leisek made his first call to Pen’s father.

“Hey Stephen,” he said. “I found your son.”

The moment was heavy with emotion. Though devastated, Pen’s father expressed gratitude that his son would finally be brought home.

“He doesn’t have to suffer anymore,” he said.

Leisek also addressed concerns about Pen’s small dog, Sassy, who was believed to have been with him at the time of the crash. Due to limited visibility inside the silt-filled vehicle, the dog was not immediately visible, and authorities later took over recovery efforts.

Law Enforcement Response

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol responded to the scene. Because the vehicle was considered a potential crime scene, the civilian team ceased further involvement beyond marking the location with a line and magnet to ensure it could be easily found.

Authorities noted clear tire tracks leading from the roadway toward the riverbank near the site, consistent with a vehicle leaving the road at speed. No evidence of collision with guardrails or other vehicles was found on the roadway itself.

Officials indicated that recovery would be conducted by the county dive team, with care taken to prevent remains from being displaced during extraction.

Closure After Uncertainty

For Pen’s family and friends, the discovery marked the end of a painful limbo. While the loss remains profound, many expressed gratitude that Eddie was found—and that his story did not fade into another unresolved disappearance.

Cases like Pen’s highlight the growing role of civilian search groups in missing-person investigations. Adventures With Purpose has located hundreds of submerged vehicles nationwide, often reopening cases long thought unsolvable.

“This is why we do what we do,” Leisek said. “Not for views. Not for recognition. But so families can stop wondering.”

As Eddie Pen is finally returned to his family, the unanswered questions give way to mourning—but also to peace in knowing where his journey ended.