UPDATE, SEPT. 9:
The body of missing theatre arts sophomore Brett Olson was found this morning in the Sacramento River near Chico, Calif., according to the Glenn County Sheriff’s Department.
Olson was reported missing last Monday by friends after disappearing during the annual Labor Day Float event on the river. Air and water units from both the Glenn County and Butte County sheriff’s departments then combed the Sacramento River looking for the missing student unsuccessfully.
Thick greenery in the area of Olson’s disappearance hindered progress of the search, Glenn County sheriff Larry Jones told the Mustang Daily last week during the search.
“You have to realize that this is a jungle type area,” Jones said.
Nonetheless, Olson’s friends and family did not give up hope, mobilizing in Chico, on Facebook and in San Luis Obispo, distributing flyers with Olson’s description and photograph.
ORIGINAL POST, SEPT. 4:
Theatre arts sophomore Brett Olson is missing after spending Labor Day weekend on the Sacramento River in Glenn and Butte counties, Glenn County sheriff Larry Jones said.
Sunday, Olson was participating in the annual Labor Day Float on the Sacramento River when he became separated from his friends, Jones said.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Department estimates that there were 10,000 people participating in the float, with many gathered on a strip of sand known locally as “Beer Can Beach.” Olson was last seen at Beer Can Beach, before he went missing, Jones said.
“He became separated from his companions in the large crowd there,” Jones said.
Olson’s friends reported him missing the next day, and both the Glenn County and Butte County sheriff’s departments have been working to recover him, Jones said. The departments have dispatched air and ground units, but thick plant growth, such as grape vines, poison oak and stinging nettles, hinders progress, Jones said.
“You have to realize that this is a jungle type area,” Jones said.
The sheriff’s departments are now sending water units to scout up the Sacramento River towards Beer Can Beach, combing the banks for Olson, Jones said. They are also following an unconfirmed lead that fire personnel saw someone walking in the area matching Olson’s description, Jones said.
The sheriff’s departments have also contacted media outlets in the area and distributed flyers with information on Olson, Jones said.
Olson has no known health conditions, though he was consuming alcohol on Sunday, Jones said. He does not have a phone on him, but Jones remains optimistic that Olson will be found, he said.
“Everything that possibly can be done at this point is being done,” Jones said.