Case of missing man remains open

BLUE RIVER: The fate of a 47-year-old Blue River man missing since November 2nd remains a mystery. An initial 911 call reported Shane Sprenger was believed to have been in the Blue River Reservoir area, possibly picking mushrooms. The next day, a family member said they‘d been able to talk with him at approximately 7:30 a.m. the next day. At that time, they advised Sprenger told them he’d lost the keys to his truck and needed a ride home.

On November 4th. family members found his abandoned silver 2009 GMC Sierra near U.S. Forest Service Rd. 15 east of Blue River Reservoir. Cellphone pings later seemed to show Sprenger had been near the reservoir, but his phone had been turned off.

New reports indicated Sprenger was working at a job site near the Blue Sky Market on the day he went missing. It’s believed he went home at 10 a.m. for lunch at 51160 McKenzie Hwy. He was scheduled to meet a subcontractor at the job site after lunch but didn’t return. All his tools were found still plugged in and were outside in misting weather.

On the day he was reported missing, Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams, deputies, and Search and Rescue volunteers began searching areas where Sprenger was believed to be. The search included areas off of U.S. Forest Service Road 15, as well as the Blue River Saddle Dam. They also searched extensively behind the former Lazy Days Mobile Home Park in the 52000 block of McKenzie Hwy. and at a location generated earlier by phone ping.

Sprenger’s family has offered a $50,000 reward leading to the missing man’s successful location and physical recovery. Anyone with information on Sprenger’s whereabouts should contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 and reference case number 21-6268.