A murder investigation has been launched after five bodies were discovered at a rural address in Oregon over the weekend.
Police officers were alerted early on Saturday (22 August) following reports of a vehicle fire at a property in Forest Grove, located approximately 30 miles west of central Portland.
Emergency responders arriving at the scene discovered the remains of five individuals alongside those of several domestic pets.
Investigation underway
Detectives looking into the deaths do not believe the incident was a random attack, reports The Mirror. There have been no arrests and details including ages, genders, possible connections or the circumstances of the deaths have not yet been disclosed.
At a news conference Sunday afternoon (August 23), Detective Shannon Wilde with the sheriff’s office said they were still working to determine who the victims were.
“Any time you have one person deceased, let alone five, that’s a logistical challenge,” Wilde said, noting the complexity of the investigation and the large crime scene.
Officials urge public to share information
When asked by reporters about the amount of time that passed between authorities first discovering the dead bodies and releasing information the following afternoon, Wilde said authorities were trying to identify the victims and notify their next of kin before holding a news conference while also working on a “very active investigation with a lot of moving pieces.” Authorities wanted to ensure they released accurate information in a responsible way, she said.
Sheriff Caprice Massey urged anyone who is familiar with the property or the people who live there to share any information they may have.
“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,” she said.
