Salem Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For The Murder Of His Sixth-Month-Old Son. -12/10/24

On December 9, 2024, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Gardiner sentenced Edward Casian to life in prison for Murder in the Second Degree for killing his 6-month-old son, Ryker.

The conviction results from an incident that occurred around 5:00 A.M. on April 12, 2022. Emergency services were called to Defendant’s residence after Ryker was found non-responsive.  Paramedics determined Ryker’s time of death at 7:45am.  Investigators followed Marion County’s Child Death Investigation Protocol, and Salem Police detectives and Marion County Death Investigators found suspicious bruising to Ryker’s body.

At that time, Dr. Rebecca Millius of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the immediate cause of death to be Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SIDS).  

Nevertheless, Salem Police Detectives continued their investigation due to Ryker’s concerning bruises. Ultimately, they gathered additional information and in May of 2023, re-questioned Edward Casian regarding the suspicious injuries on Ryker. This time, Casian admitted to multiple incidents of violence against Ryker. 

Based in part on those statements, Dr. Millius changed her cause of death to be Asphyxia Due to Smothering and manner of death as Homicide.

No further details will be released due to the nature of the investigation involving child abuse. 

On December 9, 2024, Edward Casian plead No Contest to Murder in the Second Degree. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea and requires agreement that the state has sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edward Casian recklessly subjected Ryker, a child under 14, to “a pattern and practice of assault and torture.” 

Judge Gardiner sentenced Edward Casian to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 25 years in the department of corrections. 

This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department. Detective Grant Foster was the lead investigator. 

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kylie Kuhns and Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy.  Spencer Todd and Christopher Clayhold represented Edward Casian. 

Woodburn Man Receives Life In Prison For June 2023 Shooting -11/26/24

On November 26^th, 2024, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jodie A. Bureta sentenced Jose Garcia-Rivera to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years minimum for the crime of Murder in the 2^nd Degree with a Firearm.

Garcia-Rivera’s sentence is a result of a jury verdict that was received on November 20, 2024, in which the jury unanimously found Garcia-Rivera guilty of the crimes of Murder in the Second Degree with a Firearm, and two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person.  This case was investigated primarily by the Woodburn Police Department and prosecuted at trial by Marion County Deputy District Attorneys Justin Barbot-Wheaton and BJ Park.

On Sunday, June 4^th, 2023, at 4 pm, Garcia-Rivera encountered his ex-brother-in-law, Noel Romero Orozco, at MegaFoods in Woodburn.  Both men were from Woodburn.

The grocery store was busy with people shopping before the work week.  Garica-Rivera shot Romero-Orozco 14 times in the back at close range with a 9mm handgun.  Testimony provided at trial stated that all gunshot wounds were from back to front.  The victim, Noel Romero-Orozco, died on scene. Garcia-Rivera shot Romero-Orozco while they were both in the self-checkout aisle within feet of bystanders, including a mother and her young daughter who were shopping for groceries.  After shooting and killing the victim, Romero-Orozco placed his handgun down and surrendered to a security officer. 

According to the Romero-Orozco, the victim said something (undetermined) that angered him.  Bystanders did not report an argument or anything out of the ordinary until the shooting began.

Deputy District Attorney Justin Barbot-Wheaton argued that this crime was brazen, completely senseless, and unprovoked by the victim.  It also endangered the lives of others in the grocery store, as well as shattered the safety of the community. 

Noel Romero Orozco leaves behind four children, as well as a father, mother, sisters and brothers.  The family and friends of Noel Romero-Orozco attended multiple hearings and days of trial. Multiple family members, including his oldest son, father, sister, cousins, a brother-in-law and his brother, provided victim impact statements to Judge Bureta prior to sentencing. 

The Woodburn Police Department was the primary investigating agency, with the assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene.  Woodburn Police Detective Ellis, Detective Stearns, Officer Ponce, Corporal Chester, Sergeant Wingo and Officer Warner all played important roles within the investigation. 

The Marion County District Attorney's Office would like to acknowledge Woodburn Police Department's quality investigation.  They were assisted by Hubbard Police, Gervais Police, Oregon State Police, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keizer Police Department.  The Marion County District Attorney’s Office would like to recognize and thank all responding law enforcement agencies and the community partners that assisted in this investigation.