LA GRANDE La Grande police Friday, Nov. 21, found the bodies of two males who had been missing. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reported La Grande Police Department personnel while Police were following up on a case and searching a large field in northeast La Grande when they found the bodies of Dale Burke, 31, and Drake Hill, 17. The sheriff’s office also reported both died from self-inflected gunshot wounds. La Grande PD found Burke’s body just after 11: 30 a. m., according to the sheriff’s office. Burke was reported missing Oct. 27. Police immediately requested additional law enforcement so an investigation could begin. Approximately 10 minutes later, while searching a separate part of the field, police found the body of Hill, who was reported missing Nov. 3. Burke and Hill died from self-inflicted wounds, according to the sheriff’s office, and while the locations of the individuals were approximately 100 yards apart, the initial investigation shows these are isolated incidents and appear not to be related. Per death investigation protocol, the local major crimes team composed of the LGPD, UCSO, Oregon State Police and the Union County District Attorney’s Office was activated to bring in more personnel. This is a unified investigation between the law enforcement agencies. There was also a department chaplain and a victim’s advocate called to assist with notifications to relatives. Investigators are collecting drone footage and security camera footage in the area, according to the sheriff’s office, and the investigation is ongoing.
https://lagrandeobserver.com/2025/11/21/police-find-2-missing-individuals-dead-in-field-in-la-grande/
