FBI joins search for 13-year-old Oregon girl believed to be with 40-year-old man

OREGON CITY, Ore. (KPTV) -- The FBI joined in the search for a 13-year-old runaway who may be with a 40-year-old man as teams scoured the Newell Creek area in Oregon City.

Samantha Dodson, 13, of Oregon City, was last seen Tuesday night and police consider her endangered.

Clackamas County sheriff's deputies say she's likely with Kelsey McCune, 40, and the pair might be looking for places to camp.

They also may be using public transit to get around.

Samantha's family tells FOX 12 they first noticed she was missing Wednesday morning, when they went to wake her up to go to school.

"I was in shock, it jolted me," said Samantha's sister Sarah Dodson. "We're just so concerned for her safety. We love her, and we want her to come home."

The Dodson family says McCune is a family friend.

"Kelsey is a family friend of my parents. I met him a couple times in passing, but they've known him for years, and I know he was recently down on his luck," said Sarah Dodson.

Samantha's family now believes the teen and McCune had been communicating without anyone knowing. When the family tried to confront McCune about it Wednesday, they say he wouldn't return their calls, and won't answer his messages.

"It's my understanding that Kelsey doesn't have a permanent residence, and we think they could be looking for a place to camp because there's not a place to take her," said Sarah Dodson.

The search for Samantha stretched to the Newell Creek area of Oregon City on Thursday, where a SWAT team scoured the terrain in the area.

Clackamas County deputies say they consider Samantha an endangered runaway mainly because of the age difference between her and McCune. They are also concerned about Samantha's welfare because of the record-cold temperatures expected this week.

Samantha's family has this message for McCune if he's reading:

"I don't know why this happened, but she's 13, she's a child and she needs to come home to be with her parents," said Sarah Dodson.

Samantha is described as white, 5-foot-4,  125 pounds with brown eyes and a slim build. Her hair was recently dyed red.

McCune is white man, 6-foot, 170 pounds with a glass eye and salt-and-pepper hair. He has no known address.

McCune is known to make money doing freelance computer work, authorities said, adding that he also may be carrying large duffel bags and backpacks with camping gear.