The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has identified five people found dead in a homicide investigation at a rural Forest Grove-area property.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has identified five people found dead in a homicide investigation at a rural Forest Grove-area property.
Deputies identified the victims as Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, 85, of Portland; Rowan Karla Kimsey, 60, of Forest Grove; Stella Jade Kimsey, 26, of Forest Grove; Linsey Mae Haraldsen, 26, of Portland; and Alvin Raymond Chu, 27, of Portland.
Authorities said Rowan Kimsey owned and lived at the property on Northwest Otis Lane. Mary Kimsey was Rowan’s mother and Stella Kimsey’s grandmother. Stella was in a relationship with Benjamin Parker, whom investigators have identified as the suspect in the case, the two lived at the property together.
Haraldsen was Stella Kimsey’s best friend, and Chu was Haraldsen’s partner, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators also found two cats and two dogs dead on the property. A third cat was taken to a veterinarian for treatment but was euthanized because of the severity of its injuries. Authorities said livestock from the property has since been rehomed.
The sheriff’s office said it has notified the victims’ next of kin.
The agency plans to hold another news conference Monday, Aug. 25, at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 215 SW Adams Ave. in Hillsboro. Officials said they were still determining the time and would announce it with advance notice.
Investigators also shared more details about how they tracked down Parker to the town of Enumclaw, Wash.
The quintuple homicide case broke over the weekend and has attracted national attention. Enumclaw Police officials shared more about how they found Parker dead inside a vehicle.
Parker was found dead by gunshot wound with a gun in his hand. The car he was found in belonged to one of the five victims found dead at his home on Saturday.
Enumclaw Police said there were no other weapons found in the car, but there was evidence that has been sent back here to Washington County Sheriff for the investigation.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office had been tracking Parker's cell phone and saw the number had pinged several times in Enumclaw. They put the license plate number from the victim's stolen car into their Flock camera system to find out he had come into Enumclaw 5 times, but hadn't left.
That's when they eventually found him deceased in the car parked behind a grocery store.
Firefighters with Forest Grove Fire were the first ones on scene Saturday after reports of a car fire. Those first responders discovered at least two of the victims.
The department shared an emotional statement Monday, saying in part, "tragedies like our community experienced over the weekend are incredibly sad, while also being so hard on our hearts and souls."
“On behalf of our firefighters, we mourn the loss of those lives that were taken this weekend, and we hold their loved ones in our own hearts during this unthinkable time."
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also shared a statement, saying:
It's been more than 48 hours since first responders initially reported to the scene, and many questions still remain. KATU News is pressing law enforcement for more information; we will update this story as information comes in.
