Victim has been identified as 55-year-old Melissa J. Stephan of Oregon City
The victim discovered in rural Camas on Oct. 9 has been identified as Melissa J. Stephan, 55, of Oregon City. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s office determined she died of a homicide from a gunshot wound to the head.
On Oct. 10, a person of interest in this case was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at a hotel in Beaverton. She was identified as Ruby M. Stephan, 48, also of Oregon City.
Melissa and Ruby were married and had recently relocated to the area from Texas.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) has served multiple search warrants in this case and worked with detectives from the Beaverton Police Department. MCU detectives continue to work on this investigation and additional updates will be provided when available.
On Oct. 9, CCSO deputies responded to a vacant rural property near NE Winters Road and NE 86th Street in Camas for the report of a suspicious death.
Several people were viewing the large property with a real estate agent when they came across what they believed to be a deceased person and called 9-1-1. When deputies arrived, they located a deceased female who had what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Deputies called for the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) for a homicide investigation.
CCSO MCU responded to the scene, interviewed area residents, collected scene evidence, and continued the investigation. During their investigation, they identified a possible person of interest.
This is an active investigation being conducted by the Clark County Major Crimes Unit with the assistance of several police departments in Oregon.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Also read:
- A Christmas Message from Clark County Today
This Christmas message from Clark County Today reflects on the Nativity and the birth of Jesus Christ. - Vancouver hires former Los Angeles City Fire Department leader as its new fire chief
The city of Vancouver has selected John L. Drake II, a former Los Angeles City Fire Department leader, to serve as its new fire chief beginning Dec. 29. - Opinion: Hard work is being done to try to trade one bad health care system for another
Elizabeth New (Hovde) cautions that efforts to create a universal, taxpayer-financed health care system in Washington risk replacing existing problems with new challenges tied to cost, access, and centralized control. - Play area at Hazel Dell Community Park closed January through March for installation of new play equipment
Play areas at Hazel Dell Community Park will close from January through March for removal of old equipment and installation of new, community-selected play features. - Opinion: The progressive attack on Washington’s sheriffs
Nancy Churchill argues that proposed legislation would shift power over county sheriffs away from voters and concentrate control within state government. - Letter: Is Secretary of State Hobbs really JUST protecting your voter information?
Camas resident Rick Vermeers questions the Washington secretary of state’s refusal to provide voter roll data to the U.S. Department of Justice and raises concerns about voter list transparency and compliance with federal law. - VIDEO: WA GOP budget lead blasts Ferguson’s fiscal plan as ‘a complete joke’
Republican lawmakers sharply criticized Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental budget, arguing it fails to meet Washington’s four-year balanced budget requirement and masks deeper fiscal problems.
