Missing Salem teen found dead in Willamette River

Whitney Woodworth and Natalie Pate, Salem Statesman Journal
·2 min read
A former Boy Scout leader from Salem was arraigned Monday on charges that he sexually abused an 11-year-old boy in 2017 and continued to stalk him through social media for years after the abuse took place.

A missing teen last seen at a West Salem High School football game on Sept. 16 was found dead in the Willamette River, police said.

Salem Police detectives and Polk County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a body found in the waterway at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Police on Tuesday reported the body matched the description of the teen they identified as 16-year-old Zackary Brenneman. Friends have reported the teen used the name Serena.

A bright light:Community remembers West Salem teen Serena Brenneman

"An examination performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning," police said in a statement.

Police said detectives are waiting for the results of other medical reports for official confirmation of identity, but said they are confident the person found is Brenneman.

Detectives found no evidence of criminality or foul play.

Flyers and posters were widely circulated on social media and throughout the city, saying Brenneman was last seen at 9 p.m. Sept. 16.

Social media posts of Brenneman's missing person flyer were shared thousands of times.

Family and friends distributed more than 600 posters seeking information about Brenneman's whereabouts, according to the Polk County Itemizer-Observer.

In a statement, West Salem High School Principal Carlos Ruiz said, "The Titan Family and the entire SKPS Family has a heavy heart today and we are grieving. We knew Zackary as a courageous student who was not afraid to be their authentic self. They will be missed. Our hearts go out to Zackary’s family."

Todd Zimbelman, director of bands at West Salem, said Brenneman was a flute player who performed in advanced band and marching band.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools communications officials said they cannot comment on the case as it relates to the ongoing investigation of the night Brenneman went missing.

Brenneman's family posted on Facebook Tuesday, saying they are heartbroken and that their child had struggled with mental health issues the family had been getting care for.

"While we can only speculate as to where Zack was mentally on Friday, the 16th, a note on his phone eluded to the fact that his mental health struggles remained," wrote Bryan Brenneman.

The statement also addressed numerous posts on social media that their child used the name Serena and identified with they/them or she/her pronouns.

"We are aware of and had open discussions regarding Zack's gender identity," the post continued. "This was an ongoing process that Zack continued to question with us and himself. If Zack had asked you personally to use different pronouns, or names, please continue to do so."

Reporter Whitney Woodworth covers city hall, economic development and business for the Statesman Journal. For questions, comments and news tips, email wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth.

Natalie Pate covers education for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6745. Follow her on Twitter @NataliePateGwin.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Missing Salem teen found dead in Willamette River