A woman who was found dead near the Willamette River in Eugene was identified by Eugene police as 24-year-old Rachel Lee Lynch.
The body was initially found on February 20th at the west bank of the river, and Eugene police identified her as Jane Doe, the Register-Guard reports. Police learned her true identity by studying surveillance images of her February 16th visit to Safeway on Coburg Road.
Rachel Lynch was not a Eugene resident and was visiting from Chester County, PA. Jennifer Lynch, her stepmother, says she didn’t know her daughter was in Eugene, but added that her boyfriend isolated and manipulated Rachel Lynch.
“She made one bad decision, she trusted the wrong person and it took her across the country,” Jennifer Lynch told the Register-Guard via telephone, “It took her life.”
Jennifer Lynch, nor the rest of the family, have alleged that the anonymous boyfriend committed the crime, rather saying he held an emotional sway over her.
Eugene police say they have no suspects or persons of interests in the case, adding that they have talked to the boyfriend.
Because toxology tests have not been completed, an official cause of death has not been established.