The man suspected of killing five people at a rural property near Forest Grove was found dead in his vehicle in Enumclaw, Washington, the Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed Sunday, Aug. 23.
Hillsboro police assisted in the investigation as part of the Washington County Major Crimes Team, an inter-agency unit of detectives from law enforcement agencies across the county.
Sheriff Caprice Massey identified the suspect as 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker at a 6:30 p.m. press conference. Investigators believe Parker died by suicide. The medical examiner has not formally confirmed the manner of death.
Enumclaw police located Parker's vehicle behind a Safeway grocery store in Enumclaw, roughly 190 miles northeast of Forest Grove, according to KOIN.
The killings were discovered Saturday, Aug. 22, at 5:27 a.m. when deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a vehicle fire at 47350 NW Otis Lane in unincorporated Washington County. Forest Grove Fire Department crews arrived first, found human remains in the burning vehicle and called for law enforcement. Responders ultimately found five people dead at the property, along with several domestic animals.
The property sits on farmland about 25 miles west of Portland. The home is not visible from the road.
"I will say that in my 22 years here, I have not been a part of or witnessed a scene quite this complex involving this type of an investigation," Massey said at the press conference.
Massey said Parker was known to the victims but did not disclose the nature of the relationship or a possible motive. Investigators do not believe the killings were a random act.
A reverse 911 call was sent to nearby residents Saturday warning of a potential safety risk. That warning was later lifted.
As of Sunday, investigators were still working to confirm the identities of the five victims and notify families. Authorities have not released the victims' ages, genders or causes of death.
Other agencies that assisted included the Forest Grove Police Department, Beaverton Police Department, Oregon State Police Crime Lab, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Washington County Digital Forensics Lab.
The sheriff's office said additional information would be released in coming days. The investigation remains open under case number 50-26-11866.
Anyone with information about the property or its residents can contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 503-629-0111.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.







