Five people and several domestic animals were found dead at a rural property in the US state of Oregon. The suspect in the case, 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, was also found dead in his car in Enumclaw, Washington, on Sunday.
Discovery of the bodies
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said that at 5:27am, deputies responded to assist the Forest Grove Fire Department at 47350 NW Otis Ln in an unincorporated area outside Forest Grove after a 911 caller reported a vehicle fire in the area. Forest Grove is about 25 miles west of Portland.
According to a media release: "Fire personnel at the scene discovered human remains and requested deputies to respond. Subsequently, responders found a total of five people deceased, along with several domestic animals. Sheriff’s Office detectives, with the help of the Washington County Major Crimes Team (MCT), are conducting the investigation."
Suspect found dead
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday evening: "Officers from the Enumclaw Police Department located Parker’s vehicle and found him deceased inside. It is believed he died by suicide. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is any danger to the public. The investigation is ongoing."
They did not state how investigators were led to Parker.
Investigation ongoing
At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Detective Shannon Wilde said they were still working to determine who the victims were. She highlighted the complexity of the investigation and the "large crime scene."
The detective described the case as a "very active investigation with a lot of moving pieces." Wilde said: "Any time you have one person deceased, let alone five, that's a logistical challenge."
Sheriff Caprice Massey urged anyone familiar with the property or the people living there to share any information they may have. She said: "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."
