SILVIES — Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found on Thursday, July 7, on public land northwest of Drewsey.

Silvies Ranch employees reported seeing a dead body in a van just inside Grant County near the Harney County line, according to a Friday, July 8, press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Grant and Harney County sheriff’s deputies discovered a second body concealed in the van after Silvies employees led them to the area, Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley said.

The deputies secured the area and called in the Major Crimes Team, which includes investigators from the Oregon State Police and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, along with state police forensic personnel.

The press release noted there is no ongoing threat to the public in the area and that law enforcement from multiple agencies remained on the scene until just after 9 a.m. Friday.

McKinley said the names of the deceased individuals are not being made public until authorities notify family members.

The sheriff declined to be specific about exactly where the bodies were found, except to say it was a remote location about midway between Drewsey and Silvies. 

No further information was immediately available on Friday.