Suspect in Oregon quintuple homicide found dead in Washington vehicle
Police say 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, suspected of killing five people on a rural property near Portland, was discovered dead in a car in Enumclaw, Washington, and investigators see no ongoing public threat.
Authorities in Washington County, Oregon, identified the body of 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker inside a vehicle parked behind a Safeway store in Enumclaw, Washington, on Sunday. Parker is suspected of killing five people whose remains were found on a farm near Forest Grove, about 30 miles west of Portland, on Saturday.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Parker appears to have taken his own life, and there is no continuing danger to the community. Sheriff Caprice Massey noted that Parker knew the victims, though officials did not disclose any further details about the victims or their relationship to the suspect.
Sheriff’s detectives responded to a report of a vehicle fire at the Forest Grove property, where they discovered the bodies of five individuals and several domestic animals. The ages, genders and cause of death of the victims have not been released, and the types of animals were not specified.
Detective Shannon Wilde said the investigation remains active and complex, emphasizing the effort to identify the victims and notify families before releasing information. She described the scene as “a logistical challenge” and said authorities are working to piece together the case while ensuring accurate public communication.
Sheriff Massey urged anyone with knowledge of the property or its occupants to come forward, describing the investigation as the most complex she has encountered in her 22 years of service.