On Friday, April 26, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced Christopher Lovrien, 56, to life in prison after 26 years served. Friday’s sentencing follows an April 15th verdict where a jury found Lovrien guilty of the 2020 murder of Kenneth Griffin.
The trial took place in front of Judge Christopher Ramras from April 8-15, with Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden and Deputy District Attorney Maggie Burgess as prosecutors. Deputy District Attorney Mackenzie Ludwig also provided assistance. The 12-person jury delivered the verdict on April 15, finding Lovrien guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree.
At the time Lovrien was indicted for the murder of Griffin, he was also indicted for the murder of Mark Dribin – a 1999 cold case that was solved using genetic genealogy. That case resolved through a negotiated plea agreement, and Lovrien was sentenced on January 12, 2024, to 20 years in prison for one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree.
Judge Ramras ordered that the sentences for the murder and abuse of a corpse of Griffin run consecutively to the manslaughter conviction for killing Dribin. As a result, Lovrien will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served 46 years in prison.
The DA’s Office thanks Victim Advocate Cecilia Delao for her hard work with the families of both victims, as well as Portland Police Bureau Detectives Brendan McGuire and Scott Broughton and MCDA Investigators Robbie Thompson and Anthony Merrill for their assistance with this case and helping bring justice to the families of Mr. Griffin and Mr. Dribin. Friday’s resolution is the result of strong collaboration and tenacity, and it is hoped that the families can now find some peace.
###
*Original Message (3/10/2021)*
Christopher Lovrien charged with two homicides, other murder victims suspected
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that the grand jury indicted 53-year-old Christopher Lovrien with the homicides of Mark Dribin and Kenneth Griffin.
Arraignment in this case is expected to be held March 11, 2021 at approximately 9:30 a.m. PT in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
These alleged murders are being investigated by the Portland Police Bureau’s Cold Case Homicide Detail, the Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Detail and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
Both the Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office are asking for the public’s help to determine whether there are any additional homicide victims, attempted homicide victims or community members with information about these cases.
Lovrien is charged with two counts of murder in the second degree, one count of abuse of a corpse in the first degree and six counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Law enforcement believes both killings to be stranger-related as there is no known connection between Lovrien, Dribin or Griffin.
Investigators have reason to believe that there may be additional homicide victims based on evidence found at the residence of Lovrien.
Based on known information, the Portland Police Bureau’s Cold Case Homicide Detail would like to speak with anyone with information about missing persons who may have been living under the Interstate 205 bridge in Southeast Portland between summer 2019 and May 2020 and had contact with Lovrien or anyone with any additional information regarding the charged offenses.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the detectives of the Portland Police Bureau and the forensic scientists at the Oregon State Police for refusing to give up on cold case homicides. Time will never stand in the way of justice. The families and friends of those murdered never forget – and neither will we,” said District Attorney Mike Schmidt.
The following timeline is being provided as part of the ongoing criminal investigation and to help generate tips from the public.
| Date | Event |
| July 01, 1999 | Mark Dribin is last seen alive. |
| July 6, 1999 | Mark Dribin is reported missing to the Portland Police Bureau. |
| July 18, 1999 | Mark Dribin’s vehicle is located in Southeast Portland. |
| Summer of 1999 | An unknown suspect’s DNA is recovered from Mark Dribin’s house and vehicle. |
| August 11, 2000 | The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office issues a presumptive death certificate for Mark Dribin. The criminal homicide investigation goes cold. |
| March of 2019 | The homicide investigation of Mark Dribin was reopened by the Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Detail and DNA evidence of the unknown suspect profile was submitted for a forensic genealogy investigation. |
| September of 2019 | Christopher Lovrien is identified as a potential suspect based on the forensic genealogy investigation. |
| November 18, 2019 | Portland Police Bureau Cold Case Homicide detectives interview Christopher Lovrien regarding the death of Mark Dribin. |
| February 01, 2020 | Kenneth Griffin is last seen alive. |
| February 2, 2020 | Kenneth Griffin is reported missing. |
| April 16, 2020 | The Portland Police Bureau executes a court-authorized search warrant for a sample of Christopher Lovrien’s DNA. |
| April 30, 2020 | The Multnomah County grand jury indicts Christopher Lovrien for the murder of Mark Dribin. An arrest warrant is issued. |
| May 04, 2020 | Christopher Lovrien is arrested for the murder of Mark Dribin. |
| May 06, 2020 | The Portland Police Bureau’s Detective Division conducts a search of Christopher Lovrien’s house in Southeast Portland. |
| May 19, 2020 | The Portland Police Bureau’s Detective Division conducts a search of Christopher Lovrien’s shed and locate Kenneth Griffin’s dismembered remains inside. |
| May 21, 2020 | Kenneth Griffin’s cause of death ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. |
| March 10, 2021 | Christopher Lovrien re-indicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court for the alleged murder and abuse of a corpse of Kenneth Griffin. |
When law enforcement executed its search warrant at Lovrein’s residence on May 06, 2020, they found six firearms, including two .9mm caliber pistols, a .40 caliber pistol, a .357 caliber revolver and two .223 caliber rifles.
The families of Kenneth Griffin and Mark Dribin are requesting privacy and do not want media contact. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is asking media refrain from contacting either family.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Lovrien is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information regarding these investigations should contact Portland Police Detective Brendan McGuire at (503) 823-0869 or Brendan.McGuire@portlandoregon.gov or PPB Detective Scott Broughton at (503) 823-3774 or Scott.Broughton@portlandoregon.gov.
#MCDA#