Police in the US state of Oregon believe they have located the suspect behind five homicides, but a mystery surrounds how the victims died. The prime suspect, 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, was found dead in his car in Enumclaw, Washington, 187 miles north of the address where the bodies were discovered.
Bodies found after vehicle fire
Emergency services were called to a vehicle fire at a home in Forest Grove, a town 30 miles west of Portland, Oregon's largest city, on Saturday, August 22. There they discovered the bodies of five people. On Monday, police located Parker dead in his car in Enumclaw.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed the identities of the people killed. The victims include Parker's girlfriend, 26-year-old Stella Jade Kimsey; her 60-year-old mother, Rowan Karla Kimsey; and her 85-year-old grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Kimsey.
Victims identified
Stella Kimsey's best friend, 26-year-old Linsey Mae Haraldsen, and Haraldsen's partner, Alvin Raymond Chu, 27, were also among the dead. Authorities said Rowan Kimsey owned the property about 30 miles west of Portland and lived there with her daughter, Stella, along with Parker.
Two cats and two dogs were also found dead at the scene. Another cat was transported to a vet for treatment but was later euthanized due to the extent of its injuries. The sheriff's office did not specify how the people and animals died in a new update issued on Tuesday.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities found the five bodies on Saturday and announced the homicide investigation on Sunday. They noted the complexity of the investigation and the large crime scene.
“I will say that in my 22 years here, I have not been a part of or witnessed a scene quite this complex involving this type of an investigation,” Sheriff Caprice Massey said. In an initial press conference held on Monday, Sheriff Massey also urged anyone who is familiar with the property or the people who live there to share any information they may have.
