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Lane County Sheriff’s Office investigators have confirmed the deceased male found in the woods near Wacker Point Rd. on 11/20/22 died as the result of homicide. He has been identified as 37-year-old Sean Lee Wilkins of Swisshome.
Investigators are asking that anyone who was in the area of Wacker Point Rd. off of Hwy. 126 (Also known as the BLM 17-7-22 Rd.) on or between Friday 11/18/22 and Sunday 11/20/22 contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives can be reached at 541-682-4150 opt. 1 or by calling the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 541-682-4167.
This morning at approximately 5:43am, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Cottage Grove Police Department responded to the report of a rollover crash in the 33000blk of E. Saginaw Rd. Responders arrived to find that the driver and sole occupant of the involved vehicle was deceased.
Preliminary investigation reveals that a blue Nissan Sentra had been driving westbound on E. Saginaw Rd. when it left the roadway for an unknown reason. The vehicle then struck a driveway embankment and rolled onto its top.
The driver’s identity is being withheld at this time, pending next of kin notification.
This morning shortly after 1:00am, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies received information from the Vancouver, Washington Police Department that a kidnapping suspect was believed to be in Lane County along with his three victims. The suspect had managed to elude police earlier in Washington State. The victims were an adult female and her two young children.
Deputies located the suspect, 53-year-old Bart Allen Stephanie, driving on Jasper Rd. near Pengra Rd. about 30 minutes later. Stephanie attempted to elude deputies and eventually drove through a privately owned yard in the area of Place Rd. and Church Rd, then continued on through a fence and into a pasture. Deputies were able to use their patrol vehicles to pin Stephanie’s rented pickup and forced him to come to a stop.
All three of Stephanie’s victims were found in the vehicle. The adult female had an injury to her head from Stephanie assaulting her, and the children were unharmed. Deputies transported the victims to an area hotel where they were provided temporary housing using a community assistance fund donated by the University Fellowship Church of Eugene.
Stephanie was lodged at the Lane County Jail after being treated for minor injuries at an area hospital. His local charges include: Three counts of Kidnapping in the 2nd Degree, Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree.
Deputies responded to a crash in the 91800blk of River Rd. on 11/30/22 at approximately 1:30pm. Investigation reveals that a red Jeep SUV was traveling northbound on River Rd. when it drove off of the roadway and struck two trees. The driver of the SUV did not survive the crash. No other vehicles were involved.
The involved driver’s identity is being withheld at this time.
On November 29, 2022 prior to 3:00pm, Cottage Grove police officers responded to the report of a stabbing at a residence in the 600blk of 8th St. in Cottage Grove. Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult male in front of the residence who had sustained a stab wound to his abdomen.
Another male, later identified to be the victim’s adult son, was located inside of the residence. Investigator’s learned that the victim’s son, 31-year-old Evan Clark Smith, used a knife to stab the victim.
Both the victim and Smith were transported to an area hospital. Smith was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Assault in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, and Harassment.
Detectives from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Cottage Grove Police Department with this investigation.
On November 27, 2022 just before 9:30pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a two-vehicle crash on Coburg Rd. near the McKenzie View intersection.
Preliminary investigation reveals that a black 2002 Ford F150 had been traveling southbound on Coburg Rd. when it crossed into the oncoming northbound lane and struck a silver 2000 Mazda Protegé sedan. The driver of the Mazda, 53-year-old Cerina Anne McPherson of Coos Bay, died as a result of the crash. A passenger in the Mazda was treated at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the F150 fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival. Law enforcement personnel flooded the area and located him approximately three hours after the crash. He was identified as 27-year-old Marco Itehua-Sanchez of Eugene.
This case remains under active investigation and alcohol use is being considered as a factor. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon State Police, Eugene Police Department, and Springfield Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
On November 25, 2022 the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received information that an adult male had been struck by a train along the Union Pacific rail line by Salmon Creek Rd. in Oakridge. Oregon State Troopers were first to arrive on scene and attempted life-saving efforts including CPR. However, the male did not survive.
The involved male was identified as 57-year-old Derek Lee Berling of Oakridge.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Berling was running westbound along the railroad tracks prior to being struck. He was reportedly wearing headphones and did not respond when train operators sounded a horn multiple times. Despite conducting an emergency stop, train operators were unable to stop the train in time to avoid a collision.
Deputies are seeking information regarding a vehicle that was abandoned at the Walton Post Office on Hwy. 126W on or around Monday 11/21/22.
The vehicle is a dark gray or blue GMC Envoy SUV bearing OR Plate #682JKZ.
Anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office tip line at 541-682-4167.
On Sunday 11/20/22, Lane County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of Wacker Point Rd. northwest of Noti after receiving reports that a hunter had located a deceased person in the woods. Wacker Point Rd. is located north of Hwy. 126 and is also known as the BLM 17-7-22 Rd.
Deputies responded and identified the deceased person to be a white male in his 30's. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
If you have any information about this case or traveled on Wacker Point Rd. on Friday 11/18/22 through Sunday 11/20/22, please contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office tip line at 541-682-4167.
Warrant Service-
On 11/23/22 at approximately 10:45am deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office learned that 39-year-old Justin Martinez was at an apartment in the 1700blk of 43rd St. in Florence. Martinez had confirmed warrants for his arrest out of the Oregon State Parole Board and Florence Municipal Court.
Due to information that Martinez may have been armed, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team responded to execute the warrant. Martinez initially refused to exit the apartment, but eventually surrendered shortly prior to 3:30pm and was taken into custody without incident.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon State Police and Florence Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
On November 22, 2022 just prior to 5:45am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a head-on traffic crash on Prairie Rd. near Maxwell Rd. in Eugene. Medics responded and determined that the driver of one of the involved vehicles, 23-year old Eddie Lloyd Jenks of Fall Creek, had died.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the1999 Pontiac Sunfire driven by Jenks had been traveling southbound on Prairie Rd. when it failed to negotiate a curve. The Sunfire crossed into the oncoming northbound lane where it struck a 2010 Ford F150 pickup driven by 58-year old Harvey James Arnold of Eugene.
Evidence at the scene indicated that Jenks was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
On 11-8-22 at approximately 1:30pm, a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to contact 31-year-old Jonathan James Gilvin, a wanted subject, on Sears Rd. near Molitor Hill Rd.
When contacted by the deputy, Gilvin fled on foot through blackberry bushes and jumped into the dangerously cold Row River. Gilvin swam across the river and climbed up onto the bank before disappearing into some bushes adjacent to the Cottage Grove Airport.
Additional deputies responded to the area and began searching for Gilvin. Deputy Chris Gardner along with his K-9 partner, Ripp, assisted in the search. Ripp quickly caught on to Gilvin’s scent and tracked him to an area overgrown with blackberry bushes.
Gilvin was taken into custody and found to be in the early stages of hypothermia. He was treated at a local hospital before being lodged at the Lane County Jail. Ripp was commended for his phenomenal police work and will be properly compensated in the form of extra milk bones and belly scratches.