Update: Morfin Jr. Indicted for Manslaughter

On Friday, December 20, 2024, a Washington County grand jury heard the evidence in this case and indicted Jose Lucas Morfin Jr. on the following charges:

• Manslaughter in the first degree
• Assault in the second degree x2
• Abuse of a corpse in the second degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Felon in possession of a firearm

The family of Mary McDowell’s has provided the following statement:

“As a family, we are deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding the death of our beloved Mary Longway McDowell. Mary was a sweet, kind, caring soul with a delightful giggle who spent her entire life serving and caring for others. She cared for many family members at the end of their lives including her sister, her late husband, both of her parents and even other residents at her mother’s memory care facility. She was always available to help friends, neighbors, and strangers. She helped so many people throughout her lifetime, and we are asking the public to help her now. If you have any information or had contact with her individually or encountered her with her partner, Jose Lucas Morfin Jr. in recent years, please reach out to the detectives assigned to this case. Details that you might not think are importantly could be very helpful to gain greater understanding of what led up to her death. We, as a family, also request that the public refrain from speculating about her especially on social media as that is very hurtful to her grieving family members.”

Detectives are continuing to investigate and have received many tips from the public. Detectives have learned that Morfin Jr. primarily uses his middle name, Lucas. Photos of both Morfin Jr. and Mary McDowell are being shared in hopes of generating additional tips.

The release of Morfin Jr.’s booking photo is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.

On Friday, December 13, 2024, at 4:40 a.m., deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of an unresponsive woman near the road outside a house in the 20500 block of SW Edy Road.

Paramedics and deputies responded and found the woman was deceased. She was identified as 64-year-old Mary McDowell, who lived in the home. At the scene, deputies also detained her partner, 38-year-old Jose Lucas Morfin, Jr.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and the interagency Major Crimes Team responded to investigate the death.

Detectives arrested Morfin for assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. The investigation into McDowell’s death continues, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information related to this case. If you have details that might assist the investigation, please contact Washington County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111.