Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Police uncovered the bodies of the two girls on Weaver's property, and were able to arrest him. Choose wisely! Law enforcement would like to thank the public for their assistance in the investigation. The state has accused Lee of killing Williams in November 2018 at her home in Cove. He declined to say how the three were killed or whether police think they were killed elsewhere and moved. The notorious I-5 Killer terrorized Interstate 5 between October 1980 and February 1981. or anything. Ashley Pond (age 12) and Miranda Gaddis (age 13) were both students at Gardiner Middle School. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Noelle Crombie | The Oregonian/OregonLive. The four had been seen together in mid-July, Thompson said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Jerretta Sandoz, right, discusses the Los Angeles Police Protective League's proposals to stop sending . "Most of the Saturday night fun was bending noses." We're Hiring! "There's a lot of drugs in Union County, and they are not all in Elgin," said Shafer, who operates an excavation business with her husband, Dick. //]]>, Under 2,000,000 ReadersEvery Day Since 2004. "This was a rough little town, loggers and sawmillers," said John Braughton, 73. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Cook, an unemployed house painter, and the victims -- all of Elgin, all unemployed and all with criminal histories -- were believed to be friends, Thompson said. The court received Farris report Oct. 1. The individual, Demus Montez (36) of Hermiston, Oregon was later confirmed to be the outstanding suspect from Sunday's pursuit and Officer Involved . As Sheriff we welcome you to Union County and all it has to offer citizens. Law enforcement later cleared the scene. DO NOT give them any information, simply hang up. Finally, in August 2002, a suspect was confirmed. Jessica Lyn Spalinger (31) of Walla Walla, WA. Travis Proctor. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Cook, 42, was arrested near Rainer, Wash., on Monday in connection with the killing of three people in Elgin. Weve also gotten calls about winning the lottery, Publishers Clearing House and credit cards. Final data has undergone extensive quality assurance and editing procedures. On July 24, children playing at a pond south of Elgin city limits along Pumpkin Ridge Road found a human hand, which led investigators to the remains of Shannon M. McKillop, 51. Instead call the Union County Sheriff at 541-963-1020. 8am - 12pm, 1pm-4:30pm Mon-Fri. Legal holidays. During the robbery, Theis shot and killed the three female employees who were working at the time: Mary Beth Wheeler (25), her mother-in-law Rosealie Fey-Girtz (51), and Virginia Kay Endicott (47). We have gotten the materials from the Marine Board and are ready to go. He can also be contact by email at tbutcher@union-county.org. This is an active investigation by the La Grande Police Department, the Union County Sheriffs Office, and the Oregon State Police. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism The Union County Sheriffs Office, the La Grande Police Department, and the Oregon State Police are continuing their investigation into the initial burglary as well as the Officer Involved Shooting and more charges and arrests are anticipated. OSP Troopers along with Union County Sheriff Deputies responded to a residence in unincorporated Union County. The cost of the class is $75. Grande Ronde Valley from Indian Rock Contacting the Marine Deputy Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Would you like to receive our breaking news? Pre-registration is required and can be done by contacting Jo Housden at the Sheriff's Office at (541) 963-1017 ext. Union County authorities arrested Gregory Alvin Cook, a 42-year-old house painter, in connection with a triple homicide near Elgin. While law enforcement was responding to the scene, it was learned that an employee of the business confronted the suspects. Three days later, the body of three-year-old Sadie Longo was found nearby. Packets have also been sent to all local high schools. ClayCoNews May 25, 2022 UNION COUNTY, OR (May 25, 2022) - Oregon State Police is reporting that on Monday, May 23, 2022, at approximately 7:25 P.M., law enforcement received a call from an individual reporting a homicide. Municipalities; Septic System Repair Program. Lee, 73, was to face a Union County jury in November on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder more than a year after pleading not guilty. Date: 9/21 #1 Assault On Female. A drop box will be located in Union County at 1105 K Avenue, La Grande, Oregon. Ronald Lee of La Grande was set to face a Union County jury in November on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Loretta Williams. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Per page 1; 2; 3 > Thomas Tracy. Click the bell icon in the nav bar, at any time to change your settings. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Investigators think Cook and the victims -- all of Elgin, all unemployed and all with criminal histories -- were friends. Don't Threaten. An Oregon State Police Trooper was set up for a spike strip deployment and upon learning of the active shooting situation, he engaged the suspects and suspect vehicle by discharging his duty weapon as they came by his location. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Ward Weaver III was a violent man with a record of rape and assault. //, Under 2,000,000 ReadersEvery Day Since 2004. We utilize Reserve Patrol and Correctional Deputies to assist our full-time Staff. -- Richard Cockle contributed to this report. Their bodies were found days later in a field. The zip codes in Union County are 97824-97883. They vanished on their way to catch the school bus in the morning. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Union County, Oregon An official website of the United States government What's New & FAQs QuickFacts Union County, Oregon QuickFacts provides statistics for all states and counties, and for cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more. Residents said the victims shared a house, and driver's license records list the same 15th Street address for Scaramuzzi and McKillop. In 2017, a total of 151 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Union County. Gregory Alvin Cook, 42, was arraigned today in Union County Circuit Court on three counts of aggravated murder, one count of abuse of a corpse, and one of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. The sheriff's office booked Mason into the Union County Correction Faculty, La Grande, at about 6 p.m. on Dec. 29. November 28, 2017. Alex Murdaugh is led outside the Colleton County Courthouse by sheriff's deputies after being convicted of two counts of murder Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Walterboro, S.C., in the June 7, 2021 . or anything. The discovery of McKillop's body, followed by rumors that more had been found, left many Elgin residents frightened. The Oregon City community was rocked in 2002 after two young girls went missing. Upon arriving on the scene, law enforcement found an adult female deceased. Find Us. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. We invite you to apply for our programs if you have an interest in Law Enforcement. "I apologize highly to all the families and everyone affected," he said. Murder defendant Lee suffers stroke in jail. During the summer, May-August, he can be reached at 541-786-1054 or you can leave a message at 541-963-1017. Court records show Circuit Judge Thomas . Beats include crime and courts, city and county news and arts/entertainment. There was a problem saving your notification. The La Grande Police Department at the request of the Oregon State Police, and in compliance with the Union County Deadly Force Plan will be conducting the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Crime Mapping Tool; Economic Development; Events; Farmers Market; How Do I? Lee remains in custody at the county jail. MIGUEL FERNANDO Wanted for: Homicide Wanted by: INTERPOL In 1988, Mulgeta Seraw, a 27-year-old Ethiopian student, was beaten to death with a baseball bat by Kenneth Mieske, Kyle Brewster, and Steven Strasser. person will not be tolerated. About Death Data The juvenile sentence in Oregon often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters. 606-878-1363, WOODS SANITATION FOR GARBAGE PICK-UP & DUMPSTER RENTALSCLAY COUNTY, KY606-599-8728, Contact us at 606-658-6187 or email [emailprotected][emailprotected], Female Suspect in Stolen Truck evades Police during Pursuit before Arrest on Fistrap Road in Clay County, Kentucky, Warrant Arrest on South Highway 421 in Clay County, Kentucky, Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, A Federal Jury in Lexington, Kentucky Finds an Attorney from Richmond Guilty of Charges Related to Investment Fraud, Location List of Knox County Sheriff's Office Safety Checkpoints for February, MANCHESTER RENTAL CENTER HAS A HUGE SELECTION. 7-8, 2017 April 9, 2017 Information on this page was obtained from the website of Union County Jail, which is public domain. LA GRANDE Ronald Dwight Lee of La Grande is headed to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem instead of to a murder trial for the death of his wife Loretta Williams. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. [CDATA[ Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Union County, Oregon - General County Info Union County, Oregon Home Page General information about Union County Population: 24,406 Area: 2,037 sq. racist or sexually-oriented language. Council Weed Control Pay Online Property Taxes Justice Court Citations Planning Travis Proctor. Champaign County Kevin Neal has been sentenced to life in prison for the 1997 murders of his 11-year-old stepdaughter and his 4-year-old stepson. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. You have permission to edit this article. The sheriffs office in a press release Wednesday, Dec. 30, announced the arrest of Gary Otis Mason, 54, of Elgin, for the deaths of Candy K. Williams, 56, and a juvenile. . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Court records show Circuit Judge Thomas Powers on Tuesday signed a order finding Lee unfit to proceed, The Observer reported. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. According to the sheriffs office, Mason called the Union County Dispatch Center via 911 from his home on Chumos Road at approximately 12:06 a.m. Tuesday. The following 8 famous cases will not be forgotten any time soon. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Invalid password or account does not exist. After he was suspected of stealing $50 from the company, he left his job as station manager. Keep In Touch. person will not be tolerated. Click on the Programs tab, then select Scholarships for more information and to get an application. Mikayla is an avid reader and writer with a passion for Oregon's waterfalls, mountains and small towns. You can now get your boat registration at the Sheriffs Office. Hamilton also faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Union County Missing La Grande Man Found Safe April 28, 2018 Union County Mugshots: Apr. Thank you! 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LA GRANDE Ronald Dwight Lee of La Grande is headed to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem instead of to a murder trial for the death of his wife Loretta Williams. We work closely with and appreciate the efforts of our partnering agencies, the La Grande Police Department and the Oregon State Police. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Elgin man faces murder charges in double homicide. If you live here or are thinking about visiting we hope you enjoy our beautiful County and feel safe here. The sheriff's office in a press release Wednesday, Dec. 30, announced the arrest of Gary Otis Mason,. The court in May stayed the proceedings in the case against Lees co-defendant, Steve Edward Hamilton, 66, of La Grande, pending the outcome of Lees case. Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. According to the court order, after a 60-day evaluation, the state will determine if Lee can stand trial in the future. Cook faces charges of murder in the death of McKillop and two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of Scaramuzzi and Johnston. A weekly note from our editor about the inner workings of the newsroom. that is degrading to another person. Authorities believe the victims were killed within 24 hours of each other shortly after that, Thompson said. Keep it Clean. A suspect was taken into custody without incident. Conspiracy to commit murder in Oregon carries a minimum sentence of seven-and-half years, and conviction for murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years. An independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers. During this confrontation, shots were fired. At the age of 15, Kinkel murdered his parents and then went on a shooting spree at Thurston High School in Springfield, killing two students and wounding at least 25 others. During this time, at least seven people were brutally murdered from northern California up to northern Washington. Courthouse Hours. Witnesses also said that they saw her driving to the hospital at a speed of around 5 mph. Name: Date: Victims: Location : A: Robert James ACREMANT: Oct./Dec. Union County authorities today said they are searching for a La Grande man suspected in the killing of a woman whose remains were found July 24 in eastern Oregon. ", Given the level of drug use, a triple homicide "doesn't surprise me at all," said professional horseshoer Richard Porter, 65, of nearby Union, who stopped in Elgin on Monday afternoon. Commissioners Meeting with Oregon Women Veterans Coordinator; Commissioners Statement on COVID-19; Commissioners Statement on COVID-19 as of April 15, 2020;