CONTENT WARNING – This article deals with domestic violence and suicide. Resources are available, seek help at our mental health resource guide or reach out to Clackamas County’s 24-hour crisis line at 503-655-8616 or call the Natl. Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 if you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence. | MORE RESOURCES
HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. (KATU) — The three people who were found shot and killed in a Happy Valley home Tuesday were identified as a son, mother, and grandmother.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement Thursday at a press conference, a day after the suspect in the family’s killing was found dead at a motel near the Oregon coast.
The victims were identified as 47-year-old Katie Kinder, 15-year-old Evan Kinder, and 78-year-old Patricia Campbell.
“There are no words strong enough to describe the pain, grief, and devastation we are feeling. These were not just three lives lost. They were our family, our loved ones, and an irreplaceable part of our lives,” family members said in a statement, posted in full below.
WELFARE CHECKS ON FAMILY
Happy Valley Police said they first received a call for a welfare check on Monday when Katie Kinder did not arrive at work.
They went to the house Katie shared with her son Evan, mother Patricia, and boyfriend 45-year-old Edward “Ed” Villa. They tried to contact anyone at the home, however, no one responded. They also tried to contact her emergency contact – Patricia – but those calls went unanswered.
Officers didn’t report seeing anything suspicious, and neighbors told police that they hadn’t seen anyone at the house for a few days.
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When Katie didn’t arrive at work again Tuesday, coworkers went to her home and got inside to check on her.
Once inside, they called Happy Valley Police, who confirmed that Katie, Patricia, and Evan were deceased. Authorities ruled their deaths as suspicious.
SUSPECT TRACKED TO MOTEL
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Villa on three counts of First-Degree Murder, and law enforcement agencies across the state were asked to look for him.
Warrenton Police said they found Villa’s vehicle at a motel in Hammond, Oregon. The U.S. Marshal Service’s Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force surrounded the motel and told Villa to surrender, however, they say he died by suicide, the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office said.
PAST COVERAGE | Suspect in Happy Valley triple-homicide found dead at motel in Hammond, Ore.
“Shortly after arriving on-scene, the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force heard what they believed to be a single gunshot inside Mr. Villa’s room,” detectives said.
Full statement from the family:
Our family is living through a nightmare that no family should ever have to experience. In one heartbreaking tragedy, we lost three beautiful people — my mother, my sister, and my nephew.
There are no words strong enough to describe the pain, grief, and devastation we are feeling. These were not just three lives lost. They were our family, our loved ones, and an irreplaceable part of our lives.
My mother was not only an incredible mom, but also an amazing grandmother. Her love for her family was unconditional, and she had a special way of making everyone around her feel loved and cared for. She was someone we could always count on, someone whose love and presence helped hold our family together. The memories she created with her children and grandchildren will forever be treasured.
My sister was a loving aunt who brought joy, laughter, and happiness to those around her. She had so much love to give and so much more life to live. Her presence brought something special to our family, and the emptiness left behind by her passing is something words cannot describe.
My nephew was far too young to even discover who he was going to become. He had his entire life ahead of him — a lifetime of dreams to chase, milestones to reach, adventures to experience, and memories to create. We will never get to see the person he would have grown into, and that is a heartbreak beyond words. His life, no matter how short, was precious, meaningful, and deeply loved.
Our hearts are shattered knowing there will forever be empty chairs at family gatherings, birthdays we will never celebrate together, holidays that will never feel the same, and countless memories we will never have the opportunity to make.
The pain of losing one family member is unimaginable. Losing three at once is something no family should ever have to endure.
But we do not want this tragedy to define who they were.
We want them remembered for the love they gave, the happiness they brought into our lives, and the beautiful memories they leave behind. They were so much more than this heartbreaking loss, and their lives deserve to be remembered for all the good they brought into this world.
As we face the difficult days ahead, we ask our community to keep our family in their thoughts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, kindness, compassion, and support during this incredibly painful time.
We also respectfully ask for privacy as we grieve and begin the difficult journey of learning how to move forward with such an unimaginable loss.
Three beautiful lives are gone, but the love they gave us will never disappear. Their memories will live in our hearts forever, their names will never be forgotten, and their absence will be felt every single day for the rest of our lives.
We love them. We miss them. And we will carry them with us always.