Police probing West Linn teen's mysterious death

WEST LINN, Ore. - Police are investigating the death of a recent West Linn High School grad who was found unresponsive in his own bed Saturday afternoon.

Police identified the deceased as 18-year-old Corey Randall Patterson.

According to West Linn police, Patterson was out Friday evening with friends and was seen by his mother about 1 a.m. Saturday after he returned home. He appeared fine and went to bed but never got up, police said.

One of his siblings went to wake him Saturday afternoon and found him unresponsive about 2 p.m., said Sgt. Neil Hennelly, a West Linn police spokesman. Paramedics from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue along with an American Medical Response ambulance responded to the home on Miles Drive in the Rosemont Summit neighborhood, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene, Hennelly said.

"It's just a tragic, tragic case," he said, noting that the teen was healthy and there were no obvious signs of trauma to shed light on what killed him.

Police are awaiting results of a toxicology report from the medical examiner's office to see what if anything was in his system. That report was not expected to be completed for four to six weeks. In the meantime, the cause of death has not been determined.

"We're looking into it because there's a lot of unanswered questions," Hennelly said.

Police want to hear from anyone who was out with Patterson or saw him Friday evening. Those with information can call Detective Sgt. Dave Kempas or Detective Nick Amendolara at (503) 655-6214.

Those who knew Patterson created a Facebook page memorializing him, describing him as kind, funny and down-to-earth.