FiveAugust 22, in a rural property on NW Otis Lane, about 25 miles west of Portland, Oregon. people and four pets were found dead on Saturday,
Five people and four pets were found de@d on Saturday, Aug. 22, at a rural property on NW Otis Lane, roughly 25 miles west of Portland, Oregon.
Firefighters initially arrived around 5:27 a.m. to extinguish a vehicle fire, but alerted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office upon discovering human remains.
Along with the five human victims, responders located two dead dogs and two dead cats; a third cat survived with injuries and was transported to a local veterinary hospital. Authorities have withheld the identities, ages, and genders of the victims pending complete family notifications.
Detectives launched a homicide investigation and identified 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker as the suspect. Investigators believe the attack was targeted, noting that Parker was acquainted with the victims. The following day, Sunday, Aug. 23, Enumclaw Police located Parker’s vehicle near a Safeway grocery store in Enumclaw, Washington—nearly 200 miles from the scene. Parker was found dead inside by suspected self means.
Sheriff Caprice Massey described the heavily vegetated rural location as one of the most complex crime scenes in her 22-year career.
The state medical examiner’s office is conducting autopsies to determine official causes of death.
