A Sweet Home area woman was murdered Monday morning apparently following a business disagreement, and a business associate was charged in her death.
At approximately 8:20 a.m. Monday, Larry B. Williams, 51, walked into Lebanon Police Department and reported that he had just murdered someone and wanted to turn himself in, Sheriff Dave Burright said. He also surrendered a semi-automatic handgun.
Lebanon officers determined that the reported crime was at the residence of 29286 Hwy. 20, which is between Lebanon and Sweet Home.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to both the Police Department and the residence.
At the residence, deputies found the body of 51-year-old Michelle I. Hawkins, Sheriff Burright said. Initial indications are that she died earlier in the morning as the result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Hawkins operated a horse training facility at her residence. Her husband is employed in Portland and was not at home at the time of the shooting.
Williams worked at the facility and lived in an apartment above the barn.
A business disagreement may have been the motive in the crime, Sheriff Dave Burright said.
Williams was charged in Hawkins’ death. The investigation is continuing.