Suspect in Oregon Killings of 5 Found Dead in Washington State

A suspect in the killings of five people found dead at a rural Oregon property was discovered dead inside a vehicle in Washington state Sunday, authorities said. Investigators believe 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker died by suicide, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public. Parker was found in Enumclaw, Washington, one day after emergency crews responding to a vehicle fire discovered five bodies and several dead domestic animals at a property near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 30 miles west of Portland. Authorities have not disclosed what led investigators to Parker or what connection, if any, he had to the victims. Few details about the killings have been released. Officials have not identified the five victims or disclosed their ages or genders. They also have not said how the victims died, how they may have been connected to one another or what type of animals were found at the property. The investigation began early Saturday when authorities were called to reports of a vehicle fire at the rural property. Responders subsequently discovered the five bodies and the animals, turning the property into a sprawling crime scene. Washington County sheriff’s Detective Shannon Wilde said Sunday that investigators were still working to identify the victims. “Any time you have one person deceased, let alone five, that's a logistical challenge,” Wilde said, citing the size and complexity of the investigation. Authorities faced questions Sunday about why they waited until the following afternoon to publicly disclose the discovery. Wilde said investigators had been working to identify the victims and notify their families while pursuing what she described as a “very active investigation with a lot of moving pieces.” She said officials also wanted to ensure any information released to the public was accurate. Sheriff Caprice Massey urged anyone with information about the case to contact investigators.