True Crime Cases in Oregon
True crime cases in Oregon span decades of criminal history, from unsolved disappearances in rural communities to high-profile investigations in the state's largest cities. Oregon law enforcement agencies, from local police departments to the state bureau of investigation, have tackled cases ranging from cold-case homicides and serial offenders to fraud schemes and domestic violence tragedies. CaseSleuth tracks each Oregon case with comprehensive timelines, profiles of victims and persons of interest, evidence summaries, and links to media coverage and court documents. Browse the cases below to explore the full scope of criminal investigations in Oregon.
2 cases found
Diane Downs Shooting
ConvictedSpringfield, OR · 1983
Diane Downs shot her three children on a rural Oregon road on May 19, 1983, killing 7-year-old Cheryl and severely wounding Christie and Danny. She claimed a stranger attacked them, but was convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1984.
D.B. Cooper — Unsolved Hijacking
UnsolvedPortland, OR · 1971
On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias "Dan Cooper" (later misidentified as "D.B. Cooper") hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305 between Portland and Seattle, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted from the rear of the Boeing 727 into the Pacific Northwest night. He was never identified or found. It remains the only unsolved commercial airline hijacking in U.S. history.