MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS PRISON AFTER DRIVING DRUNK, HITTING AND KILLING A WOMAN SITTING IN A NORTHEAST PORTLAND ROADWAY IN 2024. - 06/22/26

CASE: 24CR58740                                                                                  June 22, 2026

Portland, OR-Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric Dahlin sentenced 62-year-old Richard Epton to 10 years in prison today.

A Multnomah County jury convicted Epton June 9, 2026 on a charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver to Injured Persons, and DUII. 

The conviction is connected to the death of 28-year old Victoria Jacob-Springer who was sitting in the middle of the roadway near the 8500 block of NE Fremont around 2:15 in the morning on the 18th of September, 2024.

This was the defendant’s fourth total DUII case.

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Wood prosecuted the case for the state. After the conviction he said:

 “This was a tragedy for all parties involved. I hope that the result provides some sense of justice for the family of Ms. Jacob-Springer and highlights the dangers of driving under the influence.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Portland Police Bureau and the Gresham Police Department for their excellent investigation on this case.

The DA’s Office would also like to recognize the work of MCDA Victim Advocate Kelly Eoff for their compassion and care for the victims in the case.

THE FACTS:

On the night of September 17, 2024, the defendant was out socializing with his wife and arrived at the Korner Pocket Bar on 73rd and Sandy, at around midnight.  The defendant was observed on video as he socialized and drank alcohol at the Korner Pocket until about 1:45 am on the morning of September 18th. Around 2:15 am the defendant was driving home in his Ford F-250 pickup when he ran over the victim as she sat in the roadway near the intersection of NE 85th and NE Fremont Street. The defendant stopped the truck for about ten seconds, and then drove away. Police later found the truck and contacted the defendant after investigators put out a picture obtained from video surveillance cameras at a nearby store. Video surveillance showed that the defendant applied the breaks about 27-30 feet prior to impact. During an interview,the defendant denied hitting anyone and denied stopping his truck. During a search, human tissue was found on the underside of the defendant’s vehicle. The material was swabbed, tested, and it was later determined there was very strong support to conclude the victim’s DNA was present on the defendant’s vehicle. 

Sentencing is scheduled for: June 22, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Courtroom 11D. 

                                                             ###MCDA###