Police say Fort Lewis soldier's disappearance is suspicious

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — An Army sergeant who was supposed to be in Iraq is missing along the Oregon Coast under what authorities say are suspicious circumstances.

Lincoln City police say Julie Ann Stendahl, 32, was to be deployed to Iraq at the end of October.

But they say she hasn't been seen or heard from in about two weeks, and her black Mazda pickup was abandoned in a public parking lot.

Inside, police say, were state park receipts, the last dated Nov. 3.

An Army spokesman says Stendahl is assigned to the 62nd Medical Brigade, based at Fort Lewis.

Ronald Stendahl, of Portland, who said he is the "unofficial adopted son" of Laurel Stendahl, the soldier's mother, said Julie Stendahl was adopted by Laurel, who lives in Las Vegas, when she was 10 or 12 years old.

He said the missing soldier married another serviceman, Norman Snook, and they were posted to Germany, where they had a son.

They returned to the states, divorced and Julie Stendahl gave custody to Snook. He said Julie Stendahl had a daughter a couple of years ago and has returned to the service.

The girl is being raised by Julie's mother, he said.

Lincoln City Police Officer Holly Blevins said the department had contacted Laurel Stendahl, who said she had not heard from her daughter in two or three weeks.