The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified five people found dead Saturday at a rural property near Forest Grove, Oregon, as victims of a quintuple homicide. Authorities named the suspect as 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, who was found dead Sunday in Enumclaw, Washington, from an apparent suicide. The victims included three generations of a single family and two of their friends.
The investigation began early Saturday after emergency crews responded to a report of a vehicle fire at the residence, located approximately 30 miles west of Portland. Upon arrival, responders discovered the bodies of five individuals and several animals. The property owner, Rowan Karla Kimsey, lived at the location with her daughter and the suspect.
Investigators identified the victims as Parker’s girlfriend, Stella Jade Kimsey, 26; her mother, Rowan Karla Kimsey, 60; and her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, 85. Also killed were Linsey Mae Haraldsen, 26, and Alvin Raymond Chu, 27. Additionally, two dogs and two cats were found dead at the scene, while a third cat was later euthanized due to its injuries. Authorities have not yet released the cause of death for the five victims or the animals.
The incident carries logistical and financial impacts for local government agencies and taxpayers. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office managed a multi-state search and a "sprawling" homicide investigation that lasted through the weekend. The delay in public notification until Sunday was attributed by Detective Shannon Wilde to the logistical challenges of identifying five victims and notifying their next of kin. This underscores the significant resources required for rural law enforcement to process high-casualty crime scenes and coordinate with neighboring states, as the suspect was located 187 miles away in Washington.
The deaths leave the rural property where the incident occurred under the control of the legal system or heirs, as the homeowner is among the deceased. While authorities stated there is no continuing threat to the public, the investigation remains active as officials work to establish a motive and process evidence from both the Oregon crime scene and the Washington location where Parker was found. No future court dates are scheduled as the sole suspect is deceased, but the sheriff's office continues to seek information from the public to complete the case record.