FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 16, 2019
Spencer Johnson receives 18 year prison sentence for killing Cory Lumber
Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that Spencer Thomas Johnson, 39, received an 18 year prison sentence for killing 48-year-old Cory Lumber.
Ms. Lumber's family has "made it abundantly clear that she was a kind, fun-loving person with a magnetic personality who easily forged friendships wherever she went,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Kelley Rhoades, who prosecuted this case. "The loss of her life has and will continue to affect everyone she knew.”
"Cory had an extremely good and caring heart,” her sister Deann Ruth-Lumber said as she spoke on behalf of the more than two dozen people who attended Wednesday’s hearing. "She would, when she could, go out of her way to help a friend in need. Cory always considered you her friend - even if there were short breaks in the relationship. …She always seemed to remember everyone's face, phone numbers and all the family history.”
On January 9, 2019, Johnson pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm constituting domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon constituting domestic violence. By pleading guilty, Johnson admitted that he caused the death of Ms. Lumber, using a firearm, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.
This investigation started on July 2, 2016 when officers assigned to the Portland Police Bureau responded to the Misty Firs Apartments, located at 1538 Southeast 122nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon after receiving a report of a deceased woman inside a residence. Upon arrival, law enforcement and medical personnel located Ms. Lumber deceased.
Law enforcement arrested Johnson at the scene.
At the time of her death, Ms. Lumber and the defendant were living together in the apartment where the homicide occurred. The couple had only been in a relationship for approximately three months. Ms. Lumber moved in with the defendant about one month prior to being killed.
During this investigation, law enforcement learned the defendant was involved in an October 2015 domestic violence incident involving his former girlfriend.
In June 2016, Ms. Lumber had told others that she was unhappy in her relationship with the defendant.
Law enforcement learned that in the late evening hours of July 1, 2016, Ms. Lumber and the defendant got into an argument at the apartment complex. Witnesses reported hearing sounds of a physical fight and eventually sounds that were initially thought to be fireworks, but later determined to be gunfire.
On the morning of July 2, 2016, the defendant woke up around 6:30 a.m., left his apartment and called his parents and reported Ms. Lumber was deceased inside the residence. Approximately 11 minutes after ending the phone call with his parents, the defendant returned to his apartment and called 9-1-1.
Inside the defendant’s residence, law enforcement, acting on a court-authorized search warrant, located six firearms, including the weapon used to kill Ms. Lumber, a .40 caliber handgun.
The family of Ms. Lumber was consulted and updated regularly throughout the plea negotiation process. They supported the case being resolved through a negotiated settlement.
If you would like to speak with someone about domestic violence prosecution, safety planning or other resources please contact the Victim Assistance Program for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at 503.988.3222.
This case is being prosecuted by Multnomah County Deputy District Attorneys Kelley Rhoades and Eric Collins.
Resources:
- Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office: Victims’ Rights Guide
- Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office: Thinking About Safety Planning
- Multnomah County Family Violence Coordinating Council: Domestic Violence Resource | Phone Numbers
#MCDA#
Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director
Phone: 503.988.6567
Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us