A suspect in the killings of five people whose bodies, and those of several animals, were found on a rural property in Oregon was identified as one of the victims’ boyfriend, officials said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, as the suspect in the “complex investigation.” On Monday, it identified one of the victims, 26-year-old Stella Kimsey, as his partner.
Stella Kimsey’s mother, Rowan Kimsey, 60, and grandmother, Mary Kimsey, 85, were also identified among the victims. Their friend, Linsey Haraldsen, 26, and Haraldsen’s boyfriend, Alvin Chu, 27, were also killed, the sheriff’s office said.
On Sunday, the sheriff’s office said the Enumclaw Police Department found Parker dead in his car. “It is believed he died by suicide,” it said.
Enumclaw is a small city in Washington state.
Officials initially responded Saturday morning to a 911 call about a vehicle fire in unincorporated Washington County, outside the city of Forest Grove.
Washington County Sheriff’s detective Shannon Wilde said the “large scene” was on a rural property with some other homes around, and “a lot of vegetation.”
“I will say that in my 22 years here, I have not been a part of or witnessed a scene quite this complex involving this type of an investigation,” Washington County Sheriff Caprice Massey said.
Rowan Kimsey owned the property and lived there with Stella Kimsey and Parker, the suspect, the sheriff’s office said Monday.
Two cats and two dogs were found dead on the property, and a third cat was found injured and later euthanized due to the extent of its injuries, according to the office. Livestock on the property has been rehomed, it said.
There is no continued threat to the public, according to the sheriff’s office.
Forest Grove is about 25 miles west of Portland, Oregon, and 190 miles southwest of Enumclaw.
