A man suspected in the death of a 20-year-old woman, whose body was discovered at Larwood Park on Dec. 20, has been arrested.
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller said Tuesday that Kenneth Charles McPhail, 39, of Lebanon, was arrested at a home in Siletz shortly before midnight Monday, Dec. 26.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, McPhail is suspected in the death of Melissa Dawn Bauer of Lebanon.
Mueller said McPhail was taken into custody without incident by Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and Siletz Tribal Police after receiving a tip that McPhail was there. Mueller said the suspect had a .357 magnum revolver at the time of arrest.
Bauer’s body was discovered at Larwood Park on the morning of Dec. 20.
Mueller said an “extensive investigation” by Sheriff’s Office detectives resulted in the identification of McPhail as a suspect.
During an intensive manhunt, Sheriff’s investigtors circulated flyers with likenesses of McPhail,described as a white male, 6-foot, 1-inch, 160 pounds, with receding long black and gray hair, and brown eyes. He has numerous tattoos which include the tattoos of a teardrop near his left eye, a Native American headdress on his neck and a cross on his right forearm with the words “100% Indian”.
The manner of Bauer’s death is not being released, Mueller said. He said the investigation indicates this is not a random act as the victim was an associate of the suspect.
Investigators believe McPhail contacted a woman acquaintance in the Lebanon area around 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22. They say McPhail assaulted the woman, whom they are not identifying, in her vehicle and then took her 1992 Ford Ranger pickup from her. The pickup was recovered at the scene of an accident on Hwy 20 and KGAL Road north of Lebanon on Thursday morning.
Investigators believe a passing motorist may have unknowingly given McPhail a ride away from the scene of the accident in a light-colored vehicle on Thursday morning, Mueller said. Anyone with information as to whom that motorist was is encouraged to contact the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and investigators will be processing the Ford pickup for evidence.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is actively following up leads in the Linn County area and will continue this investigation, Mueller said. Anyone with information about McPhail’s activities is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (541) 967-3950 or their local police.