In a case that has sent chills through central Oregon, 28-year-old Maria Linda Jade Kilmer has been missing since Saturday night, March 28, 2026, after her car ran out of gas on a dark stretch of Highway 22 — and she reportedly climbed into the vehicle of an unidentified motorist who stopped to “help.”

She has not been seen or heard from since. Her keys, purse, identification, and cellphone were left behind in the stranded car. No one knows the name, description, or even the make of the vehicle that drove off with her.

The circumstances are raising urgent alarms among family members and investigators alike. Oregon State Police have launched a full missing person investigation, describing the situation as deeply concerning. Kilmer was last seen around 9 p.m. near milepost 15 on Highway 22 in Marion County, between Lyons and Stayton, just east of the Santiam River area.

According to the passenger who was riding with her that night, the pair had been traveling from Lyons toward Salem when the vehicle suddenly ran out of fuel. Stranded on the side of the busy but rural highway after dark, they waited. Then another car pulled up. The unidentified motorist offered assistance. Moments later, Maria Linda Jade Kilmer got into that stranger’s vehicle and drove away — never to be seen again.

She left everything behind. Everything.

This is not the typical story of someone who simply walked away. Kilmer, a Salem-area resident, reportedly left her personal belongings in the disabled car, including items no one would normally abandon unless something went terribly wrong. Her family is extremely concerned, with loved ones telling reporters the circumstances feel ominous and out of character.

Highway 22 in that stretch winds through forested, semi-rural terrain — scenic by day but isolated and dimly lit at night. Milepost 15 sits in a vulnerable spot where help can be scarce, and trust in a passing stranger can turn deadly in seconds.

Police have released photos of Kilmer and are actively seeking any information about the unidentified motorist or the vehicle involved. No description of the driver or the car has been made public yet, leaving the public in the dark about who might have picked her up. Investigators have not ruled out foul play, and the case has been entered into national law enforcement databases.

As hours turned into days with no contact, the fear has only deepened. Family members are pleading for anyone who might have seen Maria on or near Highway 22 that Saturday night to come forward immediately. One relative reportedly mentioned that Kilmer had even tried to arrange a ride by dropping a pin for family to pick her up — raising the haunting question of why she would instead climb into a complete stranger’s car and leave all her possessions behind.

The passenger’s account is the only known version of events. That person remained at the scene and later spoke with troopers. But the critical details about the motorist who stopped remain a black hole: Was it a man? A woman? Someone local? A long-haul driver? Did Maria know them? Was there any conversation overheard? Police say it is unknown whether Kilmer was familiar with the driver.

This disappearance has ignited widespread concern across Marion County and beyond. Social media has exploded with shares of her photo and desperate appeals for tips. In small communities like Stayton, Lyons, and Salem, the story is dominating conversations — a stark reminder that even routine drives on familiar roads can spiral into nightmare scenarios when gas runs dry and a “helpful” stranger appears.

Maria Linda Jade Kilmer is described as 28 years old, with no further physical details released publicly by police at this time. Her family has expressed profound worry, emphasizing that the total silence since that Saturday night is completely unlike her. No calls. No texts. No social media activity. Nothing.

Oregon State Police are urging anyone with information — dashcam footage from Highway 22 that evening, sightings of a vehicle stopped near milepost 15 around 9 p.m., or any knowledge of the unidentified motorist — to contact them immediately. Tips can be submitted through local OSP channels or by calling emergency services.

The case highlights a terrifying reality for drivers everywhere: when your car dies on a lonely highway after dark, the line between a Good Samaritan and a potential predator can vanish in an instant. Maria walked away from a broken-down vehicle and into the unknown — and now her loved ones are left in agonizing limbo, praying for her safe return while dreading the worst.

As the search enters its sixth day with no breakthroughs announced, the questions grow louder: Who was the unidentified motorist? Where did they take her? And why has Maria Linda Jade Kilmer not reached out to anyone since climbing into that car?

Her family is desperate. Investigators are racing against time. And the public is being asked to keep eyes open for any clue that could bring Maria home.

If you were traveling on Highway 22 near milepost 15 on the evening of March 28, 2026, or if you know anything about the person who stopped to help a stranded driver that night, you may hold the key to solving this mystery.

Oregon State Police continue to investigate. Maria Linda Jade Kilmer remains missing — and the stranger who offered her a ride is the last known person to have seen her alive.