Navy Commander's body recovered from Washington mudslide

Body of Navy commander, victim of Washington mudslide, found by brothers
Seattle Times
Posted by Sara Jean Green
March 25, 2014

The body of U.S. Navy Cmdr. L. John Regelbrugge III, 49, was found this morning on his property on Steelhead Drive, said his sister-in-law, Jackie Leighton of Vacaville, Calif.

Regelbrugge was a 32-year Navy veteran, she said.

“John was found this morning about 10 a.m. with his dog. His brothers found his body,” Leighton said.

Regelbrugge’s wife, Kris, remains missing, Leighton said: “They were both home when the slide hit, but they haven’t found her yet.”

The couple had three sons and two daughters. Two sons are in the Navy, and their daughters are both in college, according to Leighton. The couple’s third son, who lived with his parents, “left for work at the lumber mill right before the slide happened,” Leighton said.

Two of John Regelbrugge’s brothers and two of his sons “were all part of the search,” while his third son is overseas and now trying to make his way home, said Leighton.

Regelbrugge, a graduate of Esparto High School in Esparto, Calif., had 13 deployments during his career, including to Iraqi territorial waters in 2002 and 2006, according to a biography released by the Navy.
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Heartbreaking Search Intensifies