Our Search and Rescue Unit is a very active and highly trained organization of volunteer citizens, which we call on frequently to assist those in need. Gregory Alvin Cook, 42, was arraigned today in Union County Circuit Court on three counts of aggravated murder, one count of abuse of a corpse, and one of being a felon in possession of a firearm. We won't share it with anyone else. She feels it's once again safe to walk around town, she said. The Union County Sheriffs Office, the La Grande Police Department, and the Oregon State Police are continuing their investigation into the initial burglary as well as the Officer Involved Shooting and more charges and arrests are anticipated. Keep your business strong with local news, Court eyes trial dates for Gary Mason case. The name Kip Kinkel is one most Oregonians are familiar with. Jessica Lyn Spalinger (31) of Walla Walla, WA. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Would you like to receive our news updates? Many residents of Union County are receiving scam calls claiming they owe the IRS money. The cost of the class is $75. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Noelle Crombie | The Oregonian/OregonLive. The court received Farris report Oct. 1. We have a fully functioning patrol staff to handle all varieties of emergency and non-emergency calls for service. He now faces two charges of first-degree murder. We're Hiring! A conviction of aggravated murder could bring the death penalty. Gregory Alvin Cook, 42, was arraigned today in Union County Circuit Court on three counts of aggravated murder, one count of abuse of a corpse, and one of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement would like to thank the public for their assistance in the investigation. and with Compassion and Valor to the citizens of Union County! "They are being transported in as complete a condition as we can get them," he said. Contact: muber@onlyinyourstate.com, One Of The Most Bizarre Disappearances In U.S. History Happened Right Here In Oregon And It Will Leave You Stunned, History Left A Definite Mark At This One Fascinating Spot In Oregon, These 13 Photos Of Oregon From The Early 1900s Are Beyond Fascinating, Its Impossible To Forget The 8 Weirdest Moments That Have Gone Down In Oregon History, Youll Want To Visit These 13 Houses In Oregon For Their Incredible Pasts, The Mind-Boggling History Of This Oregon Commune Will Astound You, Here Are The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Oregon And Theyre Incredible, 6 Things Archaeologists Discovered In Oregon That Will Astound You, Facebook/Thurston High Colts - Springfield, OR, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Oregon That Will Leave You Baffled. The Oregon State Trooper involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave per department policy pending the outcome of the investigation. Mason was at the scene and received aid from the Elgin Ambulance and La Grande Fire Department. Share with Us. What other crimes have occurred in Oregon in your lifetime? This is based off of the average number of violent crimes committed, compared to . Keep it Clean. All rights reserved (About Us). They vanished on their way to catch the school bus in the morning. Share with Us. Ronald Lee of La Grande was set to face a Union County jury in November on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Loretta Williams. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive. Residents said the victims shared a house, and driver's license records list the same 15th Street address for Scaramuzzi and McKillop. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism There was an error processing your request. Union County Undersheriff Craig Ward said the victims' alleged drug use made no difference to police in their investigation. The Union County Sheriffs Office mission is to provide Professional Law Enforcement A weekly note from our editor about the inner workings of the newsroom. Final death data is shown in the next section below. These three men were all members of the skinhead gang East Side White Pride. Cook confessed on camera to the killings. Date: 9/21 #1 Assault On Female. "Now there are so many strangers in town, it's unreal. Newest reporter to The Observer. The scourge of illicit drugs is worsening in this town of 1,700, said Barbara Eckstein, 25, a bartender at Sig's Saloon in Elgin. The sheriff's office booked Mason into the Union County Correction Faculty, La Grande, at about 6 p.m. on Dec. 29. If you havent entered a lottery or Publishers Clearing House you cant have won anything. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The four had been seen together in mid-July, Thompson said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. At the time, Cook blamed methamphetamines. You have permission to edit this article. Hours for registration are Monday-Friday from 8-5. According to the court order, after a 60-day evaluation, the state will determine if Lee can stand trial in the future. Three days later, the body of three-year-old Sadie Longo was found nearby. Final data has undergone extensive quality assurance and editing procedures. Cook, also known as Gregory Alvin Mitts, pleaded guilty to all five charges. Mason remains in the county jail on no bail. Gregory Alvin Cook, 42, was. accounts, the history behind an article. The vehicle fled the scene and sheriffs deputies immediately located and started pursuing the vehicle. "It is kind of one of the things that was going to happen.". Lee remains in custody at the county jail. Crime Mapping Tool; Economic Development; Events; Farmers Market; How Do I? While Oregon is generally considered to be a safe place to live, theres no denying that we have had more than our fair share of infamous crimes. 1995: 3: Oregon, USA: Pleasant ARMSTRONG. Gregory Alvin Cook. Williams was Masons significant other, according to the sheriffs office, which did not identify the juvenile. Union County, Oregon ( Map It) was created on October 14, 1864 from Baker County. racist or sexually-oriented language. Thomas Tracy. According to the court order, after a 60-day evaluation, the state will determine if Lee can stand trial in the future. At the time the two were divorcing. It was later discovered that the I-5 Killer was Randall Woodfield, a gifted athlete and well-liked former student at Portland State University. Investigators think Cook and the victims -- all of Elgin, all unemployed and all with criminal histories -- were friends. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Gloria Shafer, 47, said she sleeps with a 9 mm handgun under her pillow because of all the drug problems. Police arrested Cook near Rainier, Wash., hours after Thompson told reporters that two more bodies had been discovered in the case. [CDATA[ Don't knowingly lie about anyone Elgin man faces murder charges in double homicide. Investigators in Moscow are exploring the possibility that the quadruple murders of four University of Idaho students may be connected to a 2021 unsolved stabbing murder 400 miles away in Oregon. 2019 Union County Weed List; 2020 May Election; 2020 UCED Business Summit; 2022 Business Assistance Grant; 2022 General Candidate Statements; . Keep it Clean. BOND: $25000 #2 LARCENY-FELONY. Your best action is to simply hang up. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, "I think a triple homicide is evidence it is becoming a bigger problem.". This is an active investigation by the La Grande Police Department, the Union County Sheriffs Office, and the Oregon State Police. We won't share it with anyone else. Union County authorities arrested Gregory Alvin Cook, a 42-year-old house painter, in connection with a triple homicide near Elgin. Municipalities; Septic System Repair Program. Our statistics for Union County include all 8 cities within the county. Cook blamed methamphetamines. We'd love to hear eyewitness An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The suspects were taken to the Union County Jail by Deputies and lodged on the following charges: Ashtin Clay Romine (26) of Clarkston, WA. If possible, block the number on your phone. Be Proactive. Not long ago, everybody knew everybody else, said Vickie Hosains, 47. Cook, 42, was arrested near Rainer, Wash., in August in connection with the killing of three people in Elgin then confessed to the crimes to a television camera crew. Union County Sheriff's Office 1109 'K' Avenue, La Grande, OR 97850 Phone : 541-963-1017 E-mail: sheriff@union-county.org EMERGENCY: dial 911 on your phone Invalid password or account does not exist. He pleaded guilty to the murders today. Union County, Oregon - General County Info Union County, Oregon Home Page General information about Union County Population: 24,406 Area: 2,037 sq. Finally, in August 2002, a suspect was confirmed. Be Nice. "It changes who you are as an individual when you're under the influence of that stuff for days and weeks at a time," he said. The La Grande Police Department at the request of the Oregon State Police, and in compliance with the Union County Deadly Force Plan will be conducting the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation. Court records show Circuit Judge Thomas . At the time the two were divorcing. Lee was hospitalized after having a stroke in January while in custody at the Union County Correctional Facility in La Grande. Hamilton in March pleaded guilty to two counts of hindering prosecution for providing Lee with transportation and concealing physical evidence. The zip codes in Union County are 97824-97883. It was later discovered that the I-5 Killer was Randall Woodfield, a gifted athlete and well-liked former student at Portland State University. Then, two suitcases containing the bodies of two-year-old Madison Longo and Mary Jane Longo were found. March 1, 2023, at 5:31 p.m. Los Angeles Police Union Proposes Limits to 911 Responses. An independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers. The state also will submit progress reports every 180 days through the length of Lees commitment, which will be no more than three years. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Guide to Union County, Oregon ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. LA GRANDE Ronald Dwight Lee of La Grande is headed to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem instead of to a murder trial for the death of his wife Loretta Williams. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Union County Oregon Sheriff Overview. Cook, 42, was arrested near Rainer, Wash., on Monday in connection with the killing of three people in Elgin. If you live here or are thinking about visiting we hope you enjoy our beautiful County and feel safe here. 606-878-1363, WOODS SANITATION FOR GARBAGE PICK-UP & DUMPSTER RENTALSCLAY COUNTY, KY606-599-8728, Contact us at 606-658-6187 or email [emailprotected][emailprotected], Two Gunshot Wound Victims after Shooting in Seattle, Washington, Attorney General Cameron Holds Operation Fight Fentanyl Forum in Falmouth, Kentucky, New Restaurant And Brewery Opens Just In Time For The Holidays In Harlan, KY, Escaped Inmate located in Abandoned Home on Knoblick Road in Leslie County, Kentucky, Drug Interdiction Task Force in Laurel County recovers Bundle of Cash belonging to a 90 Year-old Louisville, Kentucky Man, MANCHESTER RENTAL CENTER HAS A HUGE SELECTION. Would you like to receive our news updates? For months, local authorities and the FBI searched for possible leads into their disappearances. The three suspects fled from the vehicle into the dense brush and vegetation. -- Richard Cockle, rcockle@oregonwireless.net. Keep your business strong with local news, Jury selection to begin July 7 for Ronald Lee trial, Murder defendant Lee in legal fight over sale of homicide victim's estate, Ronald Lee murder trial set for early January. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"81nAoiJxAC7UiVfHItG99EsOJZnlWuRb_yaLX8j61C4-1800-0"}; Police uncovered the bodies of the two girls on Weaver's property, and were able to arrest him. Back on 13 August 2021, a couple was attacked in their home in Salem, Oregon, by a masked assailant who broke in armed with a knife, the Marion County . No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Apply Now. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. OCN provides news and information to keep communities informed about crime in their area. All people featured here are presumed innocent. Geoffrey and Leslie Brown, Clackamas County, 1975 Five-year-old Geoffrey Lyman Brown and 7-year-old Leslie Michelle Brown were found murdered on March 12, 1975, at 4:45 p.m. Each had been shot twice in the head while lying on a coat in a small clearing in McIver Park, near the City of Estacada. Error! Would you like to receive our breaking news? Law enforcement later cleared the scene. On Saturday, police used chain saws to clear underbrush and trees from the area where Scaramuzzi's and Johnston's remains were found. Investigators believe he could be responsible for more than 40 murders. Keep In Touch. He is currently serving a life sentence in prison. Former reporter with the La Grande Observer and Union County native. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The scammers are not located in Union . person will not be tolerated. Click the bell icon in the nav bar, at any time to change your settings. BigBarn Internet RadioBest mix of Classic Rock & Country, William Hudson's Carpet Sales Inc.Hardwood, Carpet & Ceramic Tile606-598-5952, STEVIE & THELMAFURNITUREWE FINANCE! Days later, police found the bodies of Frank M. Scaramuzzi, 50, and Jeremiah H. Johnston, 28, in a densely wooded area north of Elgin. The state has accused Lee of killing Williams in November 2018 at her home in Cove. Mikayla is an avid reader and writer with a passion for Oregon's waterfalls, mountains and small towns. DO NOT give them any information, simply hang up. Coverage includes COVID-19, news stories, sports, business and community issues. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Be Truthful. Use the 'Report' link on The court canceled the murder trial after Dr. Michael Saul Farris, a Portland-based psychiatrist, determined Lee was danger to himself or others because of a mental disorder and requires hospital care due to the dangerousness and the acuity of symptoms of the disorder, according to the judges order.