The Mystery of Three Missing Tourists: Terrifying Discovery in an Oregon Cave

In 1999, three students from Portland State University, Eric Stevens, Jonathan Price, and Lisa Carter, vanished during a hiking trip in the Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon. Their disappearance baffled authorities and ignited a search that lasted for months, yet no trace of them was found—until, in 2009, a terrifying discovery in a remote cave would unravel chilling details about what happened to them. This is the story of the three missing students and the dark mystery that still haunts the forests of Oregon to this day.

The Disappearance of Three Students

On the morning of July 27, 1999, Eric Stevens, a 21-year-old geology student, drove his friends Jonathan Price, 22, a biology student, and Lisa Carter, 19, an ecology student, to Mount Hood National Forest for a multi-day hike. The trio was well-prepared. Eric, having worked as an assistant on geological expeditions for the previous two summers, was familiar with the rugged terrain of the area. The group planned a 40 km hike that would take them through little-known trails, far from the typical tourist spots.

Their route was mapped, and they aimed to make camp at predetermined locations along the way. On that fateful morning, Eric drove his 1996 Cherokee SUV, and after picking up Jonathan and Lisa, the group made a final stop at a gas station where Eric purchased supplies—a map, energy bars, and water—before heading toward the trailhead near Trillium Lake.

At around 3:00 p.m., Eric’s car was found parked at the trailhead, locked with the keys tucked under the front left wheel, a common practice among hikers to ensure that others could access the vehicle if necessary. Inside the car were a road map, an empty water bottle, and Lisa’s sunglasses. But the three students never returned, and their families reported them missing by August 1st.

A Frantic Search

By August 2nd, an official search effort began. A team of twelve rangers, assisted by volunteers, scoured the area surrounding the last known campsite near Salmon Creek, the first of three overnight stays marked on Eric’s map. They found the spot relatively quickly, discovering a campfire ring, several tin cans, and plastic bags. A sock that matched Lisa’s shoe size was found nearby, suggesting that the group had passed through this location.

The second campsite, near a rocky outcrop, yielded more signs of activity—food scraps, a piece of rope, and evidence that someone had slept there. But when the search party reached the third campsite at the foot of Defiance Mountain, there was nothing. The dense forest and treacherous terrain made the search incredibly challenging. Days turned into weeks, but no sign of the three hikers was found.

On August 8th, search dogs picked up a scent near a ravine two kilometers from Mount Defiance. There, they discovered the remains of a tent, cut into pieces, and Jonathan’s backpack, its contents scattered across the ground. Jonathan’s notebook, the last entry dated July 30th, described the hike, stating that they had reached some interesting rock formations and were heading further east the next day. Yet, still, there was no sign of the students.

The investigation then took a dark turn—detective Sarah Thompson began looking into the possibility that something sinister had happened. The evidence suggested that the tent had been intentionally destroyed with a sharp object, though no blood was found. Jonathan’s sleeping bag had also been slashed, further indicating that something had gone terribly wrong.

A Decade of Silence

As the months passed, the search was called off, but the case remained unsolved. Despite theories ranging from wild animal attacks to criminal activities in the area, nothing could explain the disappearance of the students. Over the next decade, the case was reviewed multiple times, but no new evidence came to light. The families, however, never gave up. They continued searching the vast forests on their own, holding on to hope that one day, they would find answers.

A Chilling Discovery

In May 2009, ten years after the students’ disappearance, a breakthrough came in the form of an eerie discovery in the very area where the students had been hiking. Geologist Daniel Clark and his team were conducting mineral research in the Hood River Canyon, about seven kilometers northeast of the students’ last known campsite. As they explored a narrow crevice, graduate student Marcus Lawrence noticed something chilling: three human skulls impaled on wooden stakes, wedged into the rocks of the cave wall.

The skulls appeared intentionally placed, each facing the entrance of the cave, as if waiting for someone to find them. The discovery was quickly reported, and police arrived to investigate. Forensic analysis soon confirmed what the world feared—the skulls belonged to the missing students. Dental records matched perfectly.

Eric Stevens, Jonathan Price, and Lisa Carter were finally identified, though their deaths remained a mystery. The skulls showed no signs of trauma from blunt force, though Eric’s skull had a small crack that could have been caused by a fall or a blow. Jonathan’s teeth showed some chips, but there was no conclusive evidence of foul play.

Theories and Speculations

The discovery sparked a wave of speculation about what had truly happened to the students. Several theories emerged, but none could be definitively proven. Some believed it was the work of a serial killer targeting tourists. Others suggested a mentally ill hermit living in the forest might have been responsible. A more unsettling theory pointed to ritualistic killings, with the students being part of a dark, occult practice.

The connection to the Vasco tribe, whose members had historically practiced ritualistic skull ceremonies, was considered, but experts dismissed the idea. The Vasco tribe had left the area long before the events in question, and their rituals were not typically performed in random caves like the one where the skulls were found.

The Unsolved Crime

Further searches of caves within a 30 km radius turned up more bones, including those of a family who had gone missing in 1997, the Colemans. The remains of Roger, Cindy, and their son Brad were found, but Emily, the 12-year-old daughter, was never located. The connection between the disappearances of the Coleman family and the students raised chilling questions, but the investigation came to a standstill. Despite extensive searches and interviews with hundreds of people, no suspects were identified.

The case remains open but officially inactive. Detective David Miller, who led the investigation, noted that without new leads or witnesses, it would be nearly impossible to solve. The caves in Mount Hood National Forest, once a quiet and remote area, now carry a sinister reputation, with locals and tourists alike avoiding the region after the chilling discoveries were made public.

Conclusion

The mystery of the three missing students—Eric Stevens, Jonathan Price, and Lisa Carter—remains one of Oregon’s most unsettling unsolved crimes. What happened to them during that ill-fated hiking trip? Was it the work of a serial killer? Or did something darker, more sinister occur in the depths of Mount Hood National Forest?

For now, the caves keep their secrets, and the case remains a haunting enigma. The discovery of the skulls brought closure to the families in a grim, tragic way, but it also deepened the mystery. What truly happened to the students, and are there more dark secrets hidden within the forest’s depths? Until the truth is uncovered, the chilling story of the three tourists will remain one of the most disturbing chapters in Oregon’s history.