Murdered man found in Hazelwood ditch

See why officials are still puzzling about this outer East Portland homicide …

The Portland Police “Mobile Precinct” parks in the lot behind the Hazelwood neighborhood Goodwill store as detectives work to unravel the mystery of how a murdered 44-year-old man came to be there.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When the man, said to be “unconscious and not breathing”, was reported on June 29, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers responded to the Hazelwood Goodwill store, at 12250 NE Halsey Street, at 10:46 a.m. that morning.

“Officers located a deceased adult on the Goodwill property – but not in or near the store,” confirmed PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Chris Burley.

A Homicide Detective arrives at the scene as part of the murder investigation.

“Based on initial information, a member of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office responded, and determined the death to be suspicious in nature,” Burley added.

The deceased man was actually found just north of the dead-end turnaround of NE Wasco Street, due east of the Adventist Health Medical Group – Parkrose, in a bioswale between the edge of the parking lot and the Halsey Terrace Apartments.

At the scene of the homicide discovery, detectives look for evidence.

Throughout the day, PPB Detective Division’s Homicide Detail were at the murder scene, aided by Criminalists with the Forensic Evidence Division.

At that location, PPB Natasha Haunsperger said that Goodwill security officers first came upon the deceased and called 9-1-1 Center. “The individual was not found in the vehicle, he was found in a bioswale.”

The investigation continues as officers and detectives search for clues to help resolve this case.

Exactly how, or why, this man, Kenneth L Coleman, died – or who killed him – all remain unknown.

“The deceased male has been identified as 44-year-old Kenneth L. Coleman,” said Burley two days later. “After an autopsy was performed by a member of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Medical Examiner determined that Coleman did indeed die as a result of homicidal violence.”

At this time, no further information about this crime is not available.

Anyone with information about this investigation should contact Portland Police Bureau Detective Division’s Homicide Detail Detective Anthony Merrill at 503-823-4033 or Anthony.Merrill@portlandoregon.gov.

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