Some of our cold cases are thirty or more years old. While you might think evidence becomes stale over time, the opposite scenario is sometimes true. For instance, relationships change over time. A person with important information who was unwilling to come forward at the time of a murder may no longer feel so constrained five or ten years later. There is no statute of limitations on the crime of Murder.
Recent technological and scientific advances can improve the odds of solving cold cases from years past. Detectives use DNA evidence and process fingerprints electronically, but they also rely on molecular analysis of physical evidence and many regional and specialized computer databases to help solve the "whodunnit."
Open Cases
We continuously ask the public to help. Read the stories and see if you can help us solve a cold case, no lead is too small, and all creative ideas are considered. If you have any information that may help detectives solve one of the cases below, email us or call 503-846-2686.
- John Fairbank - Summer 2001
Sheriff's Case #02-04815
Date: Summer 2001
Time: Unknown
Location: 24830 SW Boones Ferry RoadJohn Frederick Fairbank, 1-14-47, lived at 24830 SW Boones Ferry Rd. He was reported missing by a friend on 2-27-02, but is believed to have disappeared during the summer of 2001. At the time, Detectives established Daniel Earl Ingram, 8-12-61, as a person of interest in the disappearance. Mr. Prosper was Mr. Fairbank's roommate and gave conflicting stories to Detectives. It was also determined that Mr. Prosper had been selling personal property that belonged to Mr. Fairbank.
- Loni Kai, aka Lorenzo Okaruru - August 26, 2001
Sheriff's Case #01-17615
Date: August 26, 2001
Time: Early morning hours
Location: Western Washington County, on SW Farmington Road near SW Rood Bridge Road.Loni was 28 when she died. She was 5'9'' tall, about 130 pounds, with brown eyes and long black hair with a red tint. Loni was a transgender woman; her Oregon identification card bears the name Lorenzo Okaruru, but indicates a gender of female.
She was wearing women's clothing at the time of her death.
- Deborah Atrops - November 29, 1988
Sheriff's Case #88-13630
Date: November 29, 1988
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Murray Boulevard extension, south of Old Scholls Ferry RoadDeborah Lee Atrops left her work in Sherwood the evening of November 29, 1988, and arrived on time for a hair appointment on Highway 99W in Tigard. She left the salon at 7:00 p.m.; at 9:00 p.m. police were notified that she never arrived to pick up her 9 month-old baby from her estranged husband back in Sherwood. Her body was found the next morning in the trunk of her car.
- Camille Foss - October 17, 1975
Sheriff's Case #75-11757
Date: October 17, 1975
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Sears, Washington Square MallCamille Foss was a 25 year-old woman working as an office employee at the Sears store in Washington Square. She left work at about 5:00 p.m. on October 17, 1975, to take a deposit to the bank. Around 6:00 p.m. the bank called Sears to ask about the deposit because the bank was getting ready to close. Camille never made it to the bank.
- Avery Roy Shipman - May 10, 1970
Sheriff's Case #70-502842
Date: May 10, 1970
Time: 8:30 pm
Location: TV Highway and Murray BoulevardAvery Roy Shipman was driving in Aloha with his wife and mother in the car just before dusk. He was eastbound on Highway 8 when a brown 1964 Chevrolet wagon cut them off on the road and would not let them pass. The Chevy driver eventually pulled his vehicle over to the fog line and Mr. Shipman pulled over in front of him. Mr. Shipman got out of his car to go talk to the suspect. As he walked to the rear of his vehicle, the station wagon driver suddenly accelerated from a stop and struck Shipman, who died at the scene of his injuries. The vehicle left traveling east (toward Beaverton) with two occupants inside.
Closed Cases
Our detectives are assigned cold cases to revisit and determine if there are any new and viable leads. Our hope is to bring justice and closure for the victims and their families, no matter how long it takes.
- Lori Billingsley - October 9, 1982
Sheriff's Case #82-13463
Date: October 9, 1982
Time: Evening
Location: 8025 SW Miller Hill RoadLori Billingsley was a junior at Aloha High School who helped tutor students in the counseling section. She left her home on Southwest Heritage Court in Aloha with friends at about 9 p.m. on October 9, 1982. Her body was found 12 hours later in a ditch. Lori was 17 years old at the time of her murder.
