Oregon Auto Theft Suspect Found Dead In Columbia Gorge

A hiker from Vancouver, WA who was in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest just North of the Columbia River discovered the body late last week. The remains have now been positively identified as a man wanted for stealing a truck and leading authorities on a high speed chase.

According to sources including Portland radio station KXL-FM, 24-year-old Joshua A. Brown of Sunriver, OR was involved in a chase in the Carson, WA area,  a forest about ten miles west of Hood River on the Washington side of the Columbia.

He reportedly abandoned the stolen truck and fled on foot, and disappeared into the woods. The hiker later found his body, it was retrieved over the weekend and forensic testing early this week proved it was that of Brown.

Officials have not said what happened to him, the investigation continues to find out why he died.